Apple has introduced the iPhone Duo, its first book-style foldable smartphone, to the Indian market. Unveiled at the company’s ‘Surprise and Shine’ event on September 9, 2026, in Cupertino, California, the device marks a major step in Apple’s approach to smartphone design. It combines the familiar iPhone experience with a larger foldable display, although its premium price and some early criticisms could influence its appeal.
Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo in India opened on October 16, 2026, at 5:30 PM IST, corresponding to 5 AM PT. Sales and deliveries are scheduled to begin on October 23, 2026. With a starting price of ₹2,99,900, the device enters the ultra-premium smartphone segment.
iPhone Duo Design and Display
The iPhone Duo features a book-style folding design that resembles a passport when closed. Its 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR cover display provides a conventional smartphone interface, while unfolding the device reveals a larger 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner screen.
Apple has equipped both displays with ProMotion technology and refresh rates of up to 120Hz. They also offer peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. The inner display features a nano-texture finish designed to minimise glare and make the fold crease less noticeable.
The expansive internal screen is one of the device’s main attractions, providing additional room for viewing content and working with multiple applications. However, the phone’s relatively heavy chassis remains one of the concerns raised in early reviews.
Performance, Software and Camera Features
The iPhone Duo is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chipset, which is also used in the iPhone 18 Pro series. It comes with 12GB of RAM and runs iOS 27.1, with software optimisations designed to support side-by-side multitasking. This marks a first for the iPhone lineup, bringing a more flexible approach to using multiple applications.
The device also supports the USB-C version of Apple Pencil, which is expected to become available later in the year. In another notable design change, Apple has replaced Face ID with Touch ID integrated into the side button. The iPhone Duo exclusively supports eSIM and does not include a physical SIM card tray or the Action Button.
Storage configurations range from 256GB to 2TB, giving users several options depending on their requirements.
For photography, the smartphone features a dual 48-megapixel Fusion camera system on the rear, covering main and ultrawide photography. A 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera is positioned on the cover display, while the inner screen incorporates an under-display camera.
However, the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens has drawn criticism in initial reviews. Some reviewers have also described the overall camera performance as underwhelming compared with other flagship iPhones, while raising concerns about the image quality produced by the under-display camera.
iPhone Duo Price in India and Availability
Apple has priced the iPhone Duo at ₹2,99,900 for the 256GB variant. Other storage configurations are available within the device’s 256GB-to-2TB range, although their Indian prices were not specified in the available launch details.
| Storage Variant | Price in India |
|---|---|
| 256GB | ₹2,99,900 |
The smartphone is available in two colour options: Star White and Night Sky. Apple had not provided specific details about launch offers for Indian buyers at the time of reporting.
With its starting price approaching ₹3 lakh, the iPhone Duo is positioned as a luxury flagship rather than a mainstream upgrade. Its appeal will largely depend on how much value buyers place on the foldable design, expanded display and multitasking capabilities.
iPhone Duo Review: Early Verdict
Early impressions suggest that the iPhone Duo is one of Apple’s most experimental products in recent years. Reviewers have praised its hardware and the comparatively less visible crease on the inner display, but concerns remain about its weight, under-display camera quality and the missing telephoto camera.
Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor at The Verge, appreciated the foldable form factor, saying, “A folding phone sounds great, and I dig the form factor.” However, he also questioned whether the design justified giving up a telephoto lens and potentially spending more time looking at the screen.
The iPhone Duo introduces an alternative to Apple’s traditional smartphone design, but its long-term success will depend on how developers adapt their applications to the dual-screen format and how Apple addresses the limitations identified in early reviews.
For now, the device offers a glimpse of Apple’s foldable ambitions. Its premium pricing and first-generation compromises may limit its audience, but users interested in a new iPhone experience will have an opportunity to explore the company’s approach to foldable smartphones.