iPhone Duo: Apple’s First Foldable Brings a Matte Screen and $1,999 Price

A foldable joins Apple’s lineup

Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo at its “Surprise and shine” event, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models. The company’s first foldable uses a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner screen.

The inner display has a matte, “nano-texture” finish and a crease that is difficult to see or feel. The folding mechanism is IP68 rated, and the phone plays an opening animation when unfolded. Touch ID is built into the power button instead of Face ID.

Software and camera changes

Apple redesigned iOS 27 controls and apps for the foldable. Among the changes, the dock sits along the side of the phone. The iPhone Duo has two cameras: a main lens and a wide-angle lens. During a hands-on, the matte inner screen handled glare from overhead windows, while the outer display appeared small by current slab-phone standards.

Price and preorder demand

The base model has 256GB of storage and starts at $1,999, with higher configurations costing more. Apple opened preorders on October 16 at 8AM ET, after allowing customers to choose color, storage, carrier and trade-in options in advance.

Online delivery estimates moved into 2027 in less than an hour after preorders began. Apple’s website showed late-January estimates for every configuration at the time of reporting, while the phone was scheduled to reach stores on October 23. Some units are typically held for in-store availability.

Repairs could be costly

Without AppleCare Plus, estimated repair costs include $229 for battery service and $999 for damage to the inner display. Apple lists “other damage” at $1,499. Apple said preorder demand was “nothing short of extraordinary” and that it was working to get the phone to customers as quickly as possible. The company said it would keep accepting online orders.