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Apple's iPhone Duo Launches at $1,999
· Confirmed
In Short: Apple's iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone, officially launched on Friday, October 23, in more than 70 countries.
Apple's iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone, officially launched on Friday, October 23, in more than 70 countries. The base 256GB model starts at $1,999, with prices rising to $2,199 for 512GB, $2,599 for 1TB, and a staggering $3,199 for the 2TB model.
The iPhone Duo marks a significant departure from the slab-like form factor that has defined the iPhone since 2007. Apple described the demand for the new device as 'extraordinary,' a characterization validated by the company's own website.
Early reviewers have given the iPhone Duo an Editors' Choice designation, noting that it 'sure hits its stride' and that 'the iPhone Duo has shown just how intuitive one can be when hardware and software work in harmony.' Despite some limitations, such as the lack of a telephoto camera and the under-display camera's mediocre photo quality, the overall consensus is that Apple has delivered a polished and compelling first-generation product.
Given the online backlog, those planning to queue at an Apple Store should arrive early and manage their expectations accordingly. Apple spokespersons confirmed that there will be 'limited' availability of the iPhone Duo for walk-in customers at Apple Stores in select countries on launch day.
Within minutes of the launch, shipping estimates for new orders slipped from the October 23 launch date to November, and by 5:30 a.m., they had reached January 25, 2027. Apple said that given 'extraordinary' pre-order demand for the iPhone Duo, it expects that supply will sell out quickly on Friday.
The iPhone Duo represents Apple's most significant hardware strategy shift in a decade. Early reviews suggest the wait may have been worth it, with the device receiving high praise from early adopters.
Apple's A18 chip powers both the iPhone Duo and its HomeView feature, which can draw on personal context from the owner's iPhone, such as a song a friend recommended in Messages, and it can control devices added to the Apple Home app.
The iPhone Duo's 6-inch screen is 'as thick as an iPhone' and is expected to come with black bezels, rounded corners, and a FaceTime camera. The device is available in color options of silver, starlight, rose pink, and space gray.
The journey to Friday's launch has been defined by unprecedented demand. Apple has confirmed that its physical retail stores will have 'limited' iPhone Duo units available for walk-in customers.
While some reviewers noted limitations, such as the lack of a telephoto camera and the under-display camera's mediocre photo quality, the overall consensus is that Apple has delivered a polished and compelling first-generation product.
The iPhone Duo's launch marks a significant shift in Apple's hardware strategy, with the device receiving high praise from early adopters and reviewers.
Apple's A18 chip powers both the iPhone Duo and its HomeView feature, which can draw on personal context from the owner's iPhone, such as a song a friend recommended in Messages, and it can control devices added to the Apple Home app.
Background
Apple has officially opened preorders for its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, which will be available for purchase starting October 23, 2026.
Preorders for the iPhone Duo are available in more than 70 countries and regions, with the first orders arriving on October 23, 2026.
What's confirmed
- In a statement shared with MacRumors today, an Apple spokesperson said there will be "limited" availability of the iPhone Duo for walk-in customers at Apple Stores in select countries when the device launches this Friday, October 23. On Friday morning, our teams look forward to welcoming customers at Apple Stores to experience iPhone Duo and the incredible iPhone line-up for themselves. Apple Stores will have limited iPhone Duo available for walk-in customers, and we're working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers' hands as quickly as possible. Apple said that given "extraordinary" pre-order demand for the iPhone Duo, it expects that supply will sell out quickly on Friday.
- Its 6-inch screen is "as thick as an iPhone" and is expected to come with black bezels, rounded corners, and a FaceTime camera.
What's still developing
- 25% off tickets now Back by popular demand: Save up to $300 on Disrupt It’s finally happening — this week, we are (probably) about to see Apple’s first foldable iPhone, more than five years after Samsung launched its first foldable phone.
- While Apple is usually tight-lipped about its product launches, there are always inevitable leaks, giving us insight into what we might see during the September 9 Apple event.
- Snap Inc has launched Specs Intelligence, an anticipatory artificial intelligence service that works across the iPhone, Mac and its Specs augmented reality glasses, as part of a wider rollout of the $2,195 headset to consumers and businesses.
- "a proprietary combination of open-source models hosted in the US alongside local LLMs."
- It's that time of year: The weather's finally starting to cool off, Halloween decor has taken over most of the stores, and tech companies are dropping their fall launches.
- Siri AI support on iPhones starts with the 2023 iPhone 15 Pro, leaving older models without access to the new assistant.
- Apple said newer devices starting with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air will deliver a better Siri AI experience because they use a more powerful on-device model for more accurate speech recognition and dictation.
- “While we thank the jury for their consideration, we strongly disagree with today’s verdict and the damages awarded, which are entirely unsupported by the facts,” it said.
- The Federal Aviation Administration told CNBC by email that it issued a “license authorization for the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Flight 14 launch and reentry operations” on Sept. 26.
- Telegraph Apple is working on a “completely revamped” Vision Pro headset that could go in any of four directions and likely won’t arrive before late 2028 or early 2029.
- Burry is a well-known contrarian investor, nicknamed “Cassandra” by Warren Buffett for his oft-ignored warnings about lesser-spotted problems buried in the financial system.
- The Federal Aviation Administration told CNBC by email that it issued a “license authorization for the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Flight 14 launch and reentry operations” on Sept.
Sources
- Bbntimeslink
- TechCrunchlink
- T2Onlinelink
- WIREDlink
- Dataconomylink
- Bbntimeslink
- MacRumorslink
- Techdigestlink
- Aulink
- Melink
- Ghackslink
- Indiatvnewslink
- Iclarifiedlink
- WarpBeat — background on Apple iPhone Duo Now Available for Preorder link
- WarpBeat — background on Apple iPhone Duo Preorders Now Live link
- Tech Dad — video link