Apple's First Foldable iPhone: iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone. When opened, it transforms into a wide 7.6-inch display, and when closed, it becomes a compact 5.4-inch phone. With the A20 Pro chip, two batteries, and features developed for the foldable screen in iOS 27, the iPhone Duo makes it possible to use the iPhone as both a phone and a pocket tablet.
Apple describes the iPhone Duo, introduced at the same event as the iPhone 18 Pro series, as the most significant change to the iPhone since the original iPhone.
Colors and Storage Options
The iPhone Duo is available in two colors: star white and midnight blue. Storage options are 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. The 2 TB option provides ample space for users working with high-resolution photos and videos.
Design: The Thinnest iPhone When Opened
The iPhone Duo, when open, is the thinnest iPhone ever produced. At the heart of its foldable design is a precise hinge made up of over 100 parts. This hinge supports the screen from the center when the phone is open; thanks to integrated magnets, the phone stays securely closed when it is shut.
- Material: A Grade 5 titanium body polished to a mirror finish and a micro-sandblasted hinge cover produced with 3D printing.
- Screen saver: The front is 3 times more resistant to scratches with Ceramic Shield 2, and the back features Ceramic Shield.
- Internal screen durability: The special polymer layer that protects the folding screen is up to 40% harder. High-strength glass and special adhesives are used on the top and bottom of the folding panel.
- Water and dust resistance: IP68 certification; resistant up to 30 minutes at a depth of 6 meters.
Two Screens, One Experience
- Internal screen: 7,6 inç Super Retina XDR. iPhone 18 Pro Max'in ekranından yüzde 50 daha büyük.
- External screen: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR. It offers about 90% of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro; providing a complete iPhone experience even when the phone is off.
Both screens feature ProMotion, Always-On display, and offer a peak brightness of 3000 nits in outdoor conditions. The nano-texture coating reduces glare in sunlight. Since both screens have the same aspect ratio, applications scale proportionally when the phone is opened and closed. The new display engine can also manage both screens simultaneously.
Dynamic Island has been redesigned for a foldable design. It now stands vertically along the edge of the inner and outer screens; it expands when Live Activities and notifications arrive.
Pro-Level Performance with A20 Pro Chip
The iPhone Duo uses the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. So, a foldable design does not mean compromising on performance.
- CPU: 6-core, up to 20% faster than A19 Pro
- GPU: 7-core, up to 40% faster and more efficient
- Neural Engine: Dual 16-core architecture, 2 times processing power for artificial intelligence tasks
- Memory: Yüzde 50 daha fazla bellek bant genişliği
- Production: 2 nanometre teknolojisi
- Continuous performance: iPhone 17 Pro'ya göre yüzde 35'e kadar daha iyi
- Cooling: Isıyı dağıtan özel buhar haznesi
Split Screen on iPhone for the First Time with iOS 27
iOS 27 has been redesigned from the ground up for the iPhone Duo's large screen. Lock Screen controls, the Dock, and navigation elements have been moved to the edges of the screen to provide more space for content. The content adapts in real-time as the phone folds, changes orientation when the phone is rotated, and switches to the other screen when flipped over.
- Split View: For the first time on the iPhone, two apps can be used side by side. You can quickly switch between the apps.
- Two windows in the same application: For example, two Safari windows can be opened side by side.
- Application pairs: Applications used together can be recorded and reopened with a single touch.
- New home screen: The Today view, consisting of two home screen pages and customizable widgets, appears side by side when the phone is on.
- New status bar: A round and flexible status bar is located in the corner of the screen.
Stand By Her Two Screens
When the iPhone Duo is left on StandBy, it works on one of the two screens even if it's not plugged in. New Calendar and Weather clock faces, an updated Photos face for Shared Albums, and more customization options for colors, fonts, and complications are coming.
Camera: Features Specific to Foldable Design
The iPhone Duo's rear camera system features two 48 MP cameras:
- 48 MP Fusion Main Camera: Zero shutter lag, optical quality 2x Telephoto, and sensor-shift optical image stabilization.
- 48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera: It's the same as the camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models.
The iPhone Duo on the video side offers many features from the Pro series: 120 fps 4K Dolby Vision recording, Cinematic mode effects up to 60 frames per second after shooting, Audio Mixing that separates music from background noise, and 4K time-lapse with Dolby Vision HDR.
Advantages of Dual Screens in Camera
Foldable design brings camera features not found on another iPhone:
- Selfie with the rear camera: Since the preview appears on the external screen, selfies can be taken best with the main camera, that is, the rear camera.
- Duet Preview: The person in the photograph can see the frame live on the external screen and adjust their pose accordingly.
- Smart Take: Artificial intelligence automatically takes the photo as soon as people pose.
- Kid Cue: Peanuts animations are being played on the outdoor screen to attract the children's attention to the camera.
Front Cameras and FaceTime
The external screen's Center Stage front camera offers automatic framing adjustment and macro shooting support. Below the internal screen, there is a new FaceTime camera; the phone can be left half-open on the table for hands-free video calls. With Duo FaceTime, people next to you can join the call through the external screen. The Dual Capture feature shares both the front and rear camera views simultaneously during a FaceTime call.
Dual Battery and Fast Charging
Each half of the iPhone Duo has a high-energy battery. Thanks to the energy balancing algorithms developed by Apple, the two batteries work as a single battery.
- Only with the internal screen up to 31 hours play video
- Only with the external display up to 44 hours play video
- In the equal use of two screens up to 24 hours usage
With fast charging support, it reaches about 50% charge in approximately 20 minutes with a 60W or higher adapter, and about 30 minutes with MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging.
Touch ID Instead of Face ID
There is no Face ID on the iPhone Duo; instead, Touch ID is used, which is embedded in the side button. The fingerprint can unlock the phone whether it is on or off, and purchases can be approved. Unlocking with Apple Watch is also supported.
Apple Intelligence and Siri
Apple Intelligence and the new Siri coming with iOS 27 become even more useful on the iPhone Duo's large screen:
- Personal context: Siri understands information in messages, emails, and photos to provide more accurate responses.
- Screen awareness: Siri can perform actions directly on the content displayed on the screen.
- Side by side usage: On one side, content is open while on the other side, you can chat with Siri.
- Write with Siri: You can get help from Siri to write text anywhere text can be written.
- New Siri application: The chat history is synced across all devices via iCloud.
- Search Context: During the phone call, information such as the reservation number and confirmation code is displayed automatically.
The Photos app features Spatial Reframe, Expand, and enhanced Clean tools. SynthID support also helps detect images that have been created or edited with artificial intelligence. All these features operate on-device and work with a privacy-focused approach through Private Cloud Computing.
Connection
- Only eSIM: The iPhone Duo works worldwide without a physical SIM slot, using only eSIM.
- N1 chip: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support.
- C2 modem: AI-powered, higher quality and more reliable cellular connection.
Environment
35% of the iPhone Duo is made from recycled materials. The battery uses 100% recycled cobalt, and the hinge cover is made from 100% recycled titanium. The box is made entirely from fiber-based materials.
iPhone Duo or iPhone 18 Pro?
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max also offer professional video tools:
- ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2: Maximum flexibility for color grading after editing
- Genlock: Full synchronization in shooting with multiple cameras
- 120 fps 4K Dolby Vision: Cinema quality in HDR images
Result: iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Both models use the same A20 Pro chip and the same 48 MP Ultra Wide camera, but they appeal to different users.
Reasons to choose the iPhone Duo:
- If you want the phone and tablet experience in one device
- If you want to multitask with a split screen
- If you want a wide screen for watching videos, reading, and playing games
- If you want to use features like selfie with the rear camera and Dual Preview with the dual-screen camera
Reasons to choose the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max:
- If you want the most advanced camera system: variable aperture, Pro controls, ProRes RAW, and Apple Log 2 exclusive to the Pro series
- If you want to prove the originality of your photos with the Apple Reference Image
- If you prefer to use Face ID
- If you love the classic iPhone design
Result
The iPhone Duo is Apple's first step into the world of foldable phones and the most unique model in iPhone history. When opened, it is the thinnest iPhone, featuring dual-screen camera capabilities, a split-screen for the first time on an iPhone, and the Pro-level A20 Pro chip, changing how the iPhone is used. For those looking to step into the foldable phone world with Apple quality, the iPhone Duo is the most exciting iPhone to date.