Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with iPhone Duo, the first foldable iPhone in the company’s history. Unveiled by new CEO John Ternus during the “Surprise and Shine” event, the device combines a 5.4-inch outer display with a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner screen and folds down to a size similar to a passport. In Australia, the starting price is expected to be around A$3,699 for the 256GB model, with pre-orders opening on October 16 and availability from October 23.
Apple is changing the shape of the iPhone.
Nearly two decades after Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone in January 2007, Cupertino has unveiled iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone and one of the most significant design changes in the history of the product.
The launch also marks a new corporate era. On stage was John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO since September 1, following Tim Cook’s long tenure.
A passport-sized iPhone
The defining feature of the Duo is its foldable design.
When closed, the device is designed to be easy to use with one hand and has dimensions comparable to a passport.
The outer display measures 5.4 inches and offers about 90 per cent of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro.
When opened, it reveals a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display, with more than 50 per cent more screen area than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
A magnetic system keeps the phone securely closed when folded.
Two apps side by side
Apple has built the software experience around the larger internal display.
iPhone Duo can run two apps side by side, giving users more room for productivity, multitasking and entertainment.
The concept clearly borrows from the iPad experience, as Ternus highlighted during the launch.
When the larger screen is not needed, the phone can be folded back into a much more compact form.
In Australia, price expected from around A$3,699
The move into foldables pushes Apple even further into the premium end of the smartphone market.
In Australia, iPhone Duo is expected to start at around A$3,699 for the 256GB version.
Models with 512GB, 1TB and 2TB of storage will also be available at higher prices.
The European starting price has been listed at €2,369.
Pre-orders will open on October 16, with the device expected to become available from October 23.
The Australian price places the Duo well above standard Pro and Pro Max models and confirms that Apple is positioning its first foldable as a high-end flagship product.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max also unveiled
The event was not focused only on the Duo.
Apple also introduced the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with international starting prices of US$1,199 and US$1,299 respectively.
At the centre of the new devices is the A20 Pro chip, built on 2nm technology and designed to power a new generation of artificial intelligence features.
Ternus described AI as a central part of the Apple experience, stressing the need for more powerful processors and cloud infrastructure.
Apple Intelligence takes a bigger role
Apple is aiming to turn its devices into more personal hubs that can use context and user information to deliver smarter services.
Artificial intelligence is expected to become one of the main areas in which the new leadership will need to prove Apple can keep pace with its biggest technology rivals.
The new hardware is designed to support expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, although availability will continue to vary between markets for technical and regulatory reasons.
AirPods 5 with live translation
Apple also unveiled the new AirPods 5.
Among the headline features is AI-powered live translation, along with upgraded immersive audio.
The new earbuds are becoming more deeply integrated into Apple’s broader intelligent-device ecosystem.
New Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4
Apple also refreshed its smartwatch range with Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
The new models retain a familiar design but add upgraded processors and new health and fitness features.
The first major product of the Ternus era
iPhone Duo remains the headline product from the event.
Apple is entering a market where rivals such as Samsung and Huawei have already been active for years, but it does so with a vast user base and a tightly integrated hardware and software ecosystem.
For years, Cupertino watched the foldable market develop from the sidelines.
Now that strategy has changed.
With iPhone Duo, Apple is creating a new category within its own lineup. For Australian buyers, however, that innovation will come at a premium price — around A$3,699 to enter the world of Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
