At roughly the size of a passport, the iPhone Duo starts at $2,000|@johnternus|X
Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale today, attracting strong demand despite supply constraints and mixed reviews.
Queues formed outside Apple’s Sydney and Shanghai stores as early as 6 a.m., while a surge in pre-orders pushed estimated delivery dates to late January amid supply shortages.
The Verge calls it the company’s “messiest first-generation products in a long time” since the iPhone X abandoned the home button nearly a decade ago.
Roughly the size of a passport and starting at $2,000, the phone features a 7.6-inch inner display with a distinctive nano-texture matte coating. One of its most talked-about hardware innovations, the coating makes the fold crease far less noticeable than on competing devices such as the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Fold 8.
However, tech reviewers note that the physical crease remains noticeable to the touch and under specific lighting.
It remains to be seen how well the foldable phone performs after several months of use.
In CNET’s 45-minute endurance test—involving social media scrolling, gaming, and video calls—the Duo had more battery left than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
The launch marks an early test for new CEO John Ternus.
Critics have pointed to several shortcomings, including the lack of a telephoto lens, app compatibility issues stemming from the screen size, and the device’s steep price.
Market researcher IDC forecasts that Apple will capture 44% of the foldable market’s value in 2026, despite accounting for 31% of unit shipments, before becoming the category leader in both volume and value by 2027.