Future TechnologyApple iPhone Duo costs 1,999 dollars and unfolds to 7.6 inches
- Base price is 1,999 dollars, top config hits 3,199 dollars
- 7.6-inch unfolded display makes it the thinnest iPhone Apple has shipped
- New CEO John Ternus delivered his first keynote at the Surprise and Shine event
- Foldable sits above the Pro Max tier, not as a replacement
1,999 dollars for a phone that folds in half
Apple first foldable iPhone costs more than most laptops. The iPhone Duo, announced at the Surprise and Shine event on September 9, starts at 1,999 dollars for the base model and climbs to 3,199 dollars at the top configuration. That makes it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold by a wide margin.
New CEO John Ternus handled the keynote, his first since replacing Tim Cook. The hardware he introduced centres on one trick: a single continuous 7.6-inch screen that folds shut into something Apple claims is the thinnest iPhone ever built.
What you actually get
The unfolded display puts the iPhone Duo in the same size class as a small tablet. Apple has not published full specs yet, but the company confirmed the A20 Pro chip, a redesigned hinge mechanism, and what it calls a "creaseless" folding display. Whether the crease is truly invisible or just less visible than Samsung's will be one of the first things reviewers test.
The rest of the September 9 event filled in the annual refresh: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4. None of those carried pricing surprises. The Duo did.
How it compares to Samsung
Samsung has had the foldable market largely to itself since the first Galaxy Fold in 2019. The Galaxy Z Fold7, Samsung's current flagship foldable, sells for roughly 1,799 pounds in the UK. Apple's entry undercuts Samsung on nothing.
The pricing tells you where Apple sees this product. The Duo is not meant to replace the Pro Max. It sits above it, a new premium tier for people who want a large screen in a pocket-sized device and will pay accordingly.
What this signals
Apple entering foldables does two things. It legitimises a category that Samsung has been refining for seven years with limited competition. And it sets a price floor that gives Samsung room to hold or even raise its own prices, since the obvious comparison point is now 1,999 dollars.
The part worth watching is whether the Duo sells in volume or stays a niche product for early adopters. At twice the price of a standard iPhone, Apple is betting there are enough buyers who want a tablet in their pocket and will pay laptop money for it. The first real sales data should land in Apple's Q1 2027 earnings call, and the Oracle Stargate bond deal already showed how fast big tech bets can reshape an entire supply chain.
Sources
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