Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo

On the heels of Apple's "Surprise and Shine" iPhone event in Cupertino, the tech giant unveiled its first foldable device, the iPhone Duo. This new model marks the company's first major product under CEO John Ternus, deviating from the vertical slabs of earlier foldable designs. The iPhone Duo boasts a wider form factor, facilitating better video viewing when unfolded.

The unfolded display measures 7.6 inches, while the outer display spans 5.4 inches. Apple touted the device as "Inspired by the versatility of iPad," demonstrating its utility in both unfolded and vertical modes.

One of the standout features is the "under-display" camera on the inner display, providing an all-screen feel. To hide the crease and minimize glare, Apple implemented a custom nanotexture finish on the device. Unlike many competitors still grappling with visible creases, companies like Oppo have made significant progress towards nearly seamless designs.

Notably, the iPhone Duo departs from the traditional fingerprint unlocking method, opting instead for Touch ID. Face ID, however, remains absent. Users can unlock the device using their Apple Watch, adding an extra layer of convenience.

Technologically, the iPhone Duo is equipped with the new A20 Pro chip and C2 model, enabling faster uploads. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the iPhone Air, this model is eSIM-only. Apple claims that the combination of the inner and outer displays offers an impressive 31 hours of video playback and 44 hours of video playback, respectively.

The camera setup includes a 48-megapixel fusion main camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with 2x optical zoom, omitting a telephoto camera for a more streamlined design.

In an effort to adapt iOS 27 to the new foldable format, Apple has made essential controls like Wi-Fi accessible in a side-mounted dock when the device is vertically oriented. Users can also pair apps and utilize split-screen functionality, enhancing multitasking capabilities. The iPhone Duo's flexibility extends to its usage modes, allowing users to pin a video on top while accessing other apps in the bottom half when using the device vertically.

Apple's new foldable enters a market where competitors such as Samsung and Xiaomi have already launched their wide foldables. With foldables currently contributing less than 2% of overall smartphone shipments, Apple's iPhone Duo has the potential to make a significant impact. According to analytics firm Counterpoint, the device could capture up to 25% of the market by the end of the year, signaling a promising future for the foldable form factor.