Apple revealed its latest innovation, the Duo foldable phone, marking a significant advancement in the tech giant’s flagship product line. The Duo, resembling a passport in size and shape with rounded edges, unfolds into a wide horizontal screen that can also be used vertically. When folded, it features a smaller single screen on the front. Apple claims it to be their thinnest phone when unfolded. Priced at $2,999 globally, the Duo starts at $1,999 in the U.S., with pre-orders commencing on October 17 and availability from October 23.
Described as a game-changer by Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, the iPhone Duo aims to offer a seamless foldable experience, differentiating itself from existing foldable devices that are criticized for being impractical. Ternus highlighted the Duo’s design elements such as a custom hinge, dual displays with a consistent aspect ratio, and a titanium body, ensuring an iPad-like experience in a compact form factor.
The launch event, overseen by Ternus, signifies a significant overhaul of Apple’s flagship product line since the removal of the physical home button on the iPhone X in 2017. The new iPhone Pro models, along with advanced AI features and AirPods updates, were also showcased. Apple introduced the “Apple Reference Image” standard to address concerns over AI-generated images’ authenticity and announced the availability of the A20 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro for enhanced AI capabilities.
Moreover, the introduction of new AirPods models with noise cancellation and additional features, as well as the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, emphasizing health-focused enhancements, further underlined Apple’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. Ternus’s role as the new CEO will be crucial in convincing customers of the value proposition of a premium foldable device like the iPhone Duo.