Apple has made one of its biggest smartphone moves in years with the launch of its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, at its latest September 2026 event. The company also introduced the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, bringing upgraded cameras, performance and artificial intelligence features.
The iPhone Duo marks Apple entry into the growing foldable smartphone market. Designed in a passport style format, the device opens to reveal a 7.6 inch inner display, while a 5.4 inch outer screen remains available when the phone is folded. It is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip and supports multitasking, Apple Pencil and up to 2TB of storage. The foldable starts at $1,999, with sales scheduled to begin on October 23.
The iPhone 18 Pro models also received major upgrades. Both devices use the A20 Pro chip and feature a new 48 megapixel main camera with variable aperture, designed to improve photography in different lighting conditions. Apple is also placing greater emphasis on privacy focused AI, with more processing taking place directly on the device.
The launch comes as Apple faces intense competition from Samsung and Chinese smartphone makers that have already established themselves in the foldable market. With the iPhone Duo, Apple is betting that its design, ecosystem and brand loyalty can make foldable phones more mainstream. The launch could become a major turning point for Apple as it combines its traditional hardware strength with its growing focus on AI and next generation smartphone design.
