The iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, reaches stores on Friday, October 23, 2026 in more than 70 countries, starting at $1,999 in the US. Unveiled on September 9, it folds like a book, with a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display. Early reviews praise the hinge and the screen, but flag uneven app support and mixed battery results.
iPhone Duo price and availability
Four storage tiers are offered in the US: 256GB at $1,999, 512GB at $2,199, 1TB at $2,599 and 2TB at $3,199. Preorders opened on October 16. Sales begin today in more than 70 countries and regions, including the US and UK, with 28 more markets following on October 30.
Stock is tight. As of October 22, Apple quoted January 22, 2027 for the 256GB model in the US and January 25 in the UK. Apple plans to sell a limited number of units to walk-in customers at its stores, with no guarantee of availability.
Specs: what is inside the hinge
Here is what Apple announces:
- Chip: A20 Pro built on a 2nm process, 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU. Apple claims a CPU up to 20% faster than the A19 Pro.
- Displays: 5.4-inch outside, 7.6-inch inside, both OLED at 120Hz, up to 3,000 nits. The inner panel has a nano-texture finish.
- Build: grade 5 titanium frame and hinge cover, IP68 rating. It weighs 254g and measures 5.2mm thick open, 11.3mm closed.
- Cameras: two 48MP rear sensors (main and ultra wide), no telephoto, plus a 12MP front camera on the outer screen and a FaceTime camera under the inner display.
- Battery: up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer screen and 31 hours on the inner one. Fast wired charging reaches 50% in about 20 minutes, and MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging goes up to 25W.
- Other: Touch ID in the side button, eSIM only, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6. There is no Face ID and no Action button. Two colors are named: Star White and Night Sky.
Apple does not disclose the RAM or the combined capacity of the two batteries. Pre-launch rumors pointed to 12GB of RAM, but that is unconfirmed.
First reviews: great hinge, unfinished software
Reviewers agree on build quality. The crease is visible but, according to Tom’s Guide, you cannot feel it under your finger. The hinge also lets the software adapt to the opening angle: when half-open, Netflix puts the video on top and the controls below.
The caveats concern third-party apps. Tom’s Guide and Wired saw black bars in some apps and poorly fitted games. Apple has highlighted more than 50 optimized apps, including Zoom, Slack, Netflix and Prime Video, and will add a “Made for iPhone Duo” label in the App Store for apps built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later. On battery, opinions differ: CNET found it lasted a busy day, while The Verge wondered whether it would hold up under heavy use.
iPhone Duo or Galaxy Z Fold 8?
The comparison with Samsung’s foldable is unavoidable. According to Tom’s Guide, the iPhone Duo costs $100 more than the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It is also heavier (254g versus 201g) and thicker when open (5.2mm versus 4.5mm), and it runs two apps side by side against three on Samsung’s phone, which also offers 16GB of RAM and a desktop mode.
On Apple’s side are the IP68 rating, Apple Pencil support, built-in MagSafe and an interface that reacts to the hinge angle. Samsung keeps the edge on thinness and versatility; Apple bets on finish and software consistency.
What the iPhone Duo means for you
At nearly $2,000, the iPhone Duo is aimed first at enthusiasts willing to pay to open a new category. The missing telephoto lens and Face ID, plus uneven app support, are fair reasons for cautious buyers to wait. Strong demand also suggests delivery times will stay long, so if you want one, plan ahead.
Did you preorder the iPhone Duo, or are you still weighing it against the Galaxy Z Fold 8? Tell us in the comments.
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