Apple Enters Foldable Phone Market With iPhone Duo, Starting at Rs 2,99,900

Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first-ever foldable iPhone, entering a market that Samsung has dominated for years.

The new handset features a book-style foldable design with two displays and is positioned as a major departure from the traditional iPhone form factor. The iPhone Duo will go on sale in India on October 23, with pre-orders beginning October 16. Prices start at Rs 2,99,900 for the 256GB version, while the top-end 2TB model will cost Rs 4,49,900.

“iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original. With an entirely new design and intuitive experiences, it shows what’s possible when hardware and software are engineered together and redefines what it means to use a foldable phone,” Apple CEO John Ternus said.

iPhone Duo display and design

The foldable iPhone features a 7.6-inch internal display and a 5.4-inch external screen. Apple has opted for a relatively short and wide book-style design rather than the taller form factor seen on some earlier foldable smartphones.

The device combines a Grade 5 titanium frame with Ceramic Shield 2 and will be available in Star White and Night Sky finishes.

Apple has also focused heavily on the hinge mechanism. The company says the custom hinge uses variable torque, carbon-fibre support plates and integrated magnets to allow the phone to fold completely flat.

The company has worked to minimise the crease on the inner display through a custom polymer and laser lithography process. The inner FaceTime camera is concealed beneath the screen and becomes active when required, while Touch ID is built into the side button.

• Both displays support Apple Pencil through USB-C.
• A20 Pro powers the foldable iPhone

The iPhone Duo is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 18 Pro series.

The handset runs iOS 27, which has been adapted to take advantage of the foldable screen. The interface can automatically adjust depending on whether the phone is closed, partially unfolded or completely flat.

Users can run two apps side-by-side, access two home screens at once and keep a video playing on one section of the display while using another section for work.

Apple is also providing APIs to developers so they can build applications specifically for the Duo’s foldable form factor.

48MP dual-camera setup

For photography, the iPhone Duo gets a 48MP Fusion main camera and a 48MP ultra-wide camera.

Apple has added features designed around the dual-screen setup. Duo Preview allows subjects to see the camera’s framing on the outer display, while SmartTake uses AI to automatically capture an image when everyone in the frame is ready.

iPhone Duo India price and availability

The 256GB iPhone Duo costs Rs 2,99,900 in India. Pre-orders will open on October 16, ahead of the phone’s retail launch on October 23.

The device will be sold in two colours — Night Sky and Star White. The highest-storage 2TB model is priced at Rs 4,49,900.

With the iPhone Duo, Apple is making its long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone category. The combination of a large internal display, flagship hardware and foldable-focused software puts the company in direct competition with Samsung and other established players in the segment.