Verge staffers praise and question Apple's $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo

Apple Introduces Foldable Duo With $1,999 Price

Apple introduced the iPhone Duo, its first folding smartphone, during its September event at Apple Park in Cupertino on Wednesday. The company also debuted the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max alongside the Duo during the annual keynote.

According to Apple, the 256GB Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States, with preorders beginning on October 16 and availability officially following on October 23.

The Duo has a 5.4-inch cover display and opens to a 7.6-inch inner screen that approaches an iPad Mini's size. Apple says it kept the aspect ratio consistent across both displays to preserve high-quality content viewing whether open or closed.

The titanium-framed handset is Apple's thinnest iPhone when opened, and it arrives in Star White or Night Sky with Ceramic Shield glass surfaces front and back.

The launch pushes Apple into a competitive foldable phone market that now includes Samsung, Google, Motorola, Honor, Oppo, and Huawei. IDC forecasts foldable shipments will grow more than 12 percent this year and Apple will ship 17 million units by 2027.

Touch ID, Dual Cameras, and Battery Specs

The Duo replaces Face ID with Touch ID built into the side power button, making it the first iPhone to support the USB-C Apple Pencil later this year.

The rear camera system includes a 48-megapixel main lens and a 48-megapixel ultrawide, but it omits a telephoto zoom entirely. Two front-facing selfie cameras include a 12-megapixel outer lens and a FaceTime camera that sits hidden beneath the inner display panel.

Apple equips the Duo with an A20 Pro chip and its custom C2 modem, plus a dual-battery design split between both halves of the foldable device.

Apple rates video playback at up to 31 hours on the inner display and 44 hours on the outer screen. With mixed use spanning both screens, the largest battery ever in an iPhone lasts up to 24 hours per charge.

Apple says the Duo reaches 50 percent charge in about 20 minutes using a 60W or higher USB-C adapter, and it supports 25W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging.

Verge Staffers Praise Design but Raise Concerns

Verge staffers offered mixed reactions to the Duo, with several praising the form factor while balking at the $1,999 entry price. Senior reviewer Jennifer Tuohy said it is ideal for her, but she will not buy one because it is too expensive.

Senior reporter Jay Peters of The Verge praised the name, saying two screens and two rear cameras make the Duo moniker a perfect fit for him.

Kevin McShane, editorial director for audio and video, said Apple Pencil support makes the Duo an iPad Mini killer and sketchbook. News writer Emma Roth said the Duo is comfortable to hold in one hand and its thin profile is purse-friendly.

Senior review editor Nathan Edwards told The Verge that he likes the Duo's form factor but refuses to abandon the telephoto zoom on his 17 Pro.

Senior reviewer John Higgins worried about a visible crease developing after months of folding the device, given its $2,000-plus price. Senior tech editor Marina Galperina said the Duo's 1.4:1 aspect ratio might change how content creators operate if Apple expands foldables.