Apple Unveils iPhone Duo, Its First Foldable iPhone With 7.6-Inch Display

Apple enters the foldable smartphone market with iPhone Duo, featuring dual displays, the A20 Pro chip, a 48MP camera system, and a redesigned iOS 27 experience.

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the introduction of iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. The device was unveiled at Apple’s September event on September 9, 2026, in Cupertino, with the announcement falling on September 10 in parts of Asia.

Positioned as a new form of iPhone rather than simply a larger smartphone, iPhone Duo combines a 5.4-inch outer display with a 7.6-inch inner display. Apple says the device is designed to provide a seamless transition between screens while retaining the familiar iPhone experience.

“iPhone Duo is the most transformative change to iPhone since the original iPhone. With an all-new design and an intuitive experience, it shows what’s possible when hardware and software are designed together, and redefines what a foldable phone can be,” Apple CEO John Ternus said.

The foldable iPhone uses Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, the same processor introduced for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Apple has paired the processor with a custom vapor chamber and a dual-battery architecture to manage heat and power across the two halves of the device.

When unfolded, the iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner display, which Apple describes as the largest and thinnest iPhone display ever. The outer display measures 5.4 inches and provides about 90 percent of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro.

Both displays use the same aspect ratio, allowing content to transition between the outer and inner screens without major changes in proportions. Apple says this approach is intended to make moving between the two displays feel natural.

The inner display also features a special nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and reflections. The display consists of multiple ultra-thin layers engineered to maintain a smooth surface while allowing the panel to fold.

Apple has redesigned iOS 27 specifically for the foldable form factor. Users can switch between the outer and inner displays, position the phone at different angles, use it in a tent-like orientation for hands-free calls and video, or take advantage of the larger screen for multitasking, gaming and entertainment.

The device is built with Grade 5 titanium, while Apple has developed a precision hinge with more than 100 components to control the folding mechanism and support the center of the display when the phone is opened.

The iPhone Duo also includes Ceramic Shield protection and IP68 resistance to water and dust. Apple says the outer display uses Ceramic Shield 2, which provides improved scratch resistance compared with the previous generation.

For biometric authentication, Apple integrates Touch ID into the side button. The company has also designed the device to work with Apple Watch for additional unlocking functionality.

Photography is another major focus of the iPhone Duo. The device features a 48MP Fusion main camera with a large sensor, a wide aperture and sensor-shift optical image stabilization. The camera can capture 48MP photos, while Apple’s computational photography system is designed to improve detail and low-light performance.

The camera system also includes a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera with macro photography capabilities. On the front, an under-display FaceTime camera allows users to make video calls while the device is open or positioned on a surface.

Apple has also introduced several camera features specifically designed around the foldable form factor.

Duo Preview lets people in front of the camera see a live preview on the outer display, making it easier to frame group photos. Smart Take uses on-device intelligence to recognize when people are ready for a picture, while Kid Cue can display animations on the outer screen to attract a child’s attention toward the camera.

Duo FaceTime allows people around the user to participate in a video call through the outer display, while the foldable design provides additional ways to position the phone during calls and recordings.

Video recording supports up to 4K at 120 frames per second, while the camera system is designed to provide more flexibility for photography and video than previous iPhone models.

The A20 Pro also brings significant performance improvements. Apple says the six-core CPU is up to 20 percent faster than the A19 Pro, while its seven-core GPU delivers up to 40 percent higher performance and improved power efficiency. The chip also features a dual 16-core Neural Engine designed to provide twice the compute capability for on-device AI workloads.

Apple says the iPhone Duo can deliver up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours when using the outer display. With both displays used equally, the company rates the device for up to 24 hours of use per charge.

Fast charging can take the battery to 50 percent in approximately 20 minutes, while wireless charging through MagSafe or Qi2 can reach 50 percent in around 30 minutes.

The foldable design also gives iPhone Duo a new role in Apple’s ecosystem. The device supports Apple Pencil for taking notes, drawing and marking up documents, while the large inner display is designed to provide an experience closer to a compact tablet without leaving the iPhone platform.

Apple is also emphasizing the transition from Android, positioning iPhone Duo as a new option for users moving into Apple’s ecosystem. The company says switching to iPhone remains straightforward while offering access to Apple’s hardware, software and services ecosystem.

With iPhone Duo, Apple is entering a foldable smartphone market that has already been developed by manufacturers such as Samsung, Huawei and Google. Apple’s approach, however, centers on integrating the folding hardware with iOS 27 rather than treating the device simply as two smartphone screens joined by a hinge.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone starts at $1,999 in the United States. Preorders began September 12, with availability scheduled to begin October 23, 2026.

Ric