Apple's Foldable iPhone Could Be Called iPhone Duo and Start at $2,000
Apple's long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone market may finally be taking shape, and new reports suggest the device could arrive with a name that is very different from what many expected.
Rather than being called the "iPhone Fold" or "iPhone Ultra," Apple's first foldable iPhone could reportedly be branded as the iPhone Duo. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple may use the name for the new device, which is expected to be unveiled alongside the company's latest iPhone lineup.
The "Duo" name is not entirely new to the tech industry. Apple used it for a notebook line in the 1990s, while Microsoft also previously used the name for a Surface product.
A $2,000 Starting Price
A foldable iPhone was never expected to be cheap, but Apple's rumored pricing could be somewhat more aggressive than earlier reports suggested.
The 256GB version is reportedly expected to start at around $2,000, while a fully equipped 2TB model could approach the $3,000 mark.
Although those prices would still make the Duo one of Apple's most expensive consumer products, they are below previous predictions that placed the starting price around $2,500.
According to the report, Apple may be willing to sacrifice some profit margin in order to keep the entry price lower and encourage stronger demand for its first foldable smartphone.
Expected Hardware
The iPhone Duo is expected to feature Apple's latest high-end hardware. Rumored specifications include the company's A20 Pro chip and a new C2 modem.
Photography could be handled by two 48-megapixel rear cameras, while a 12-megapixel front-facing camera is reportedly planned for the device.
One particularly interesting possibility is Apple Pencil support. If confirmed, the feature could make the foldable iPhone more attractive to users who want to combine smartphone functionality with a larger screen for productivity, note-taking and creative work.
The device is also expected to use a magnetic hinge system, potentially helping Apple address some of the engineering challenges associated with foldable phones.
A Wide, Landscape-Style Foldable Display
The iPhone Duo is reportedly being designed around a wide foldable screen. When opened, the device could take on a landscape-oriented shape similar to Samsung's larger foldable phones.
That design could be particularly useful for watching videos and running multiple applications simultaneously. Side-by-side multitasking could become one of the key advantages of Apple's foldable form factor.
Apple is also likely to optimize iOS specifically for the larger internal display, meaning the experience could go beyond simply providing users with a bigger screen.
Dark Blue and White Options
The first-generation foldable iPhone could initially be offered in at least two colors: dark blue and white.
Apple often provides a wider selection of colors across its standard iPhone lineup, but a more restrained palette would make sense for a first-generation premium foldable device.
October Launch Expected
The iPhone Duo is reportedly expected to go on sale in October, shortly after the iPhone 18 lineup reaches stores.
This would allow Apple to position the foldable iPhone as a new premium category rather than as a direct replacement for its standard iPhone models.
The company's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also reportedly set to receive a $100 price increase compared with their predecessors.
A $2,000 starting price would still place the iPhone Duo firmly in premium territory. However, if the report is accurate, Apple's decision to stay below the previously rumored $2,500 threshold could indicate that the company wants its first foldable iPhone to attract a broader audience.
The biggest questions now concern Apple's final naming, pricing, specifications and how the company plans to differentiate the Duo from the rest of the iPhone family.
