Apple’s first foldable iPhone opens to 7.6 inches and starts at Dh8,499 in UAE

Apple has introduced its inaugural foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, boasting a 7.6-inch display upon full extension. Priced at Dh8,499 in the UAE, pre-orders commence on October 16, with delivery slated for October 23. The device features dual color options: star white and night sky. When closed, the iPhone Duo showcases a 5.4-inch outer screen, delivering 90% of the screen area found in the iPhone 18 Pro.

When opened, its 7.6-inch inner display represents a 50% increase in size compared to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, providing enhanced space for multimedia consumption, gaming, and multitasking. Both displays share a consistent aspect ratio and incorporate ProMotion, Always-On functionality, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The hinge, fashioned from over 100 components, is complemented by a body made from grade 5 titanium, and the front and back are treated with Ceramic Shield and Ceramic Shield 2, respectively, offering superior scratch resistance.

The device adheres to IP68 standards for splash, water, and dust resistance, while a nano-texture coating on the inner screen mitigates glare and diminishes the visibility of the crease. Notably, the folding display employs high-strength glass and a titanium reinforcement plate for added support. Apple has optimized iOS 27 for the foldable form factor, introducing Split View, which enables two applications to coexist side by side.

Users can easily switch between apps, open multiple windows within a single app, and save preferred app pairs for future reference. When unfolded, the phone presents two Home Screen pages alongside the Today View. Popular third-party apps such as Netflix, Zoom, and Slack have already been adapted for the foldable interface. Apple has integrated the Dynamic Island, now positioned vertically along the side of the screens, and has repositioned controls, Dock, and app navigation to maximize vertical content space.

The Duo is compatible with the Apple Pencil, featuring USB-C connectivity, which will facilitate note-taking, sketching, and document annotation across both displays. The camera suite comprises three 48MP lenses: a Fusion Main camera capable of 48MP resolution, an integrated 2x Telephoto optical lens, and an additional 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera for expansive shots and macro photography.

The folding design facilitates selfie photography using the rear cameras while providing an outer screen preview. Duo Preview offers a real-time camera view on the outer display, while Smart Take automates photo capture using AI models. Kid Cue displays Peanuts animations to engage children, and Duo FaceTime permits external participants to join video calls through the outer screen.

The Main camera excels at 4K video recording at 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision, and Cinematic effects can be applied post-recording at up to 60 frames per second. The device is available in two polished color variants – star white and night sky, and is constructed from grade 5 titanium, finished to a mirror-like sheen. Each display is powered by a single battery, with the twin cells working in tandem via sophisticated energy management algorithms.

The phone offers up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and up to 44 hours on the outer display, equating to approximately 24 hours when both screens are utilized equally. Charging options include wired connectivity, delivering 50% charge within 20 minutes, and wireless charging via MagSafe or Qi2, achieving 50% power in around 30 minutes.

The iPhone Duo relies on an eSIM-only configuration, compatible with over 500 carriers globally, including e& and du. The A20 Pro processor, akin to those in the iPhone 18 Pro models, is paired with a custom vapor chamber for enhanced thermal management. Apple asserts that this configuration delivers up to 35% improved sustained performance compared to the iPhone 17 Pro.

The A20 Pro CPU offers a 20% boost over the A19 Pro, while the seven-core GPU experiences a 40% performance increase while consuming less power. A Dual 16-core Neural Engine provides twice the on-device AI processing power. The phone supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread through Apple’s proprietary N1 wireless networking chip, alongside its C2 cellular modem system.