Apple unveils its first folding iPhone

Apple has finally unveiled its first folding iPhone, named Duo, with a starting price of $2,000 (£1,475). The Duo is one of the most expensive smartphones currently available, with the highest storage option priced at $3,200 (£2,360). The device has a book-style design, drawing inspiration from the iPad and touted by Apple's CEO, John Ternus, as fluid and completely intuitive.

However, critics argue that the phone could become an expensive ornament, lacking meaningful growth for the company, which hasn't introduced standout features in recent years. Ternus, who took over as CEO after Tim Cook's resignation, has been working on the foldable phone for several years. He emphasized that Apple aimed to differentiate the Duo from other foldable smartphones, which he claimed feel like two phones glued together, making the larger screen appear smaller.

The CEO highlighted that the Duo is the result of remarkable innovations, aiming to redefine the foldable phone experience. Industry analyst Ben Wood suggested that Ternus' promotion might be strategically timed to coincide with the launch of what could be one of Apple's biggest iPhone launches in recent years. He believes that altering the iPhone's design could address criticisms of Apple's lack of major product hits since the first iPhone in 2007.

However, some analysts warn that the foldable phone risks becoming a premium-priced accessory without significant growth potential. They compare it to Apple's unsuccessful Vision Pro headset and predict that the foldable iPhone could occupy 4% of the smartphone market within a decade, similar to the current market share of the iPhone.