Apple hawks $2k folding fondleslab
Another new form factor for devs to adapt to
Apple unveiled its $2,000 folding smartphone, the iPhone Duo, during CEO John Ternus' first keynote address. Despite being a long-awaited product for the tech giant, the folding phone is not entirely new to the industry. Folding phones only accounted for 1.6% of total smartphone sales last year, according to Counterpoint Research. During the event, Ternus criticized other foldable smartphones for being mere "two phones strapped together," while Apple aimed to break that mold with the Duo.
The Duo's folded form has a square shape, described as "passport sized," with a 5.4" screen. When unfolded, it boasts a 7.6" screen. Apple claims the screen's durability is enhanced by its many layers using a "visco-elastic adhesive" and a titanium plate. However, no specific data on its hardness is provided. The hinge mechanism, a common weakness in previous foldable devices, is said to have 100 precision components and AI-assisted tightness.
Notably, the iPhone Duo moves iOS interface elements to the right side of the screen to maximize vertical space for content. Developers will need to adapt their apps using a new API, similar to the changes required for Apple Intelligence and Siri. The Duo also features fewer cameras than the iPhone Pro series and lacks Face ID, instead using a Touch ID button on the side.
Apple's usual wait-and-see approach to new technologies and its relative obscurity in recent developments, like the Vision Pro, suggest the Duo's future could be uncertain.
Written by urgent.news from The Register's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Apple hawks $2k folding fondleslab theregister.com
