Apple Puts $1,999 Foldable iPhone Duo on Sale, Aiming to Recreate the iPhone Effect and Lead the Global Market in 2027!

September brought a change at the top of Apple, as former hardware chief John Ternus became CEO and introduced the iPhone Duo just over a week after taking office. How the device is received could offer an early assessment of his leadership. Apple hopes it will lift the smaller foldable phone market in much the same way that the original iPhone transformed the smartphone market.

With Samsung Electronics and Huawei having offered premium foldable phones for years, Apple’s device could substantially change the competitive balance in this segment. The first indications suggest strong preorder demand: when orders opened last Friday, demand overtook supply within minutes, sending Apple’s estimated delivery dates for the iPhone Duo back to late January.

The $1,999 handset has received a mixed reception from early reviewers. While its high-end design attracted praise, reviewers singled out the solid, barely visible hinge as a significant breakthrough in a category long troubled by noticeable creases. Against those strengths, they identified camera compromises, including the omission of a telephoto lens. Buyers may also find the experience disappointing where third-party apps have yet to be adjusted for the new screen dimensions.

For many quick, day-to-day tasks normally carried out on a standard iPhone, the Duo’s compact folded size proves awkward, reviewers said. Those drawbacks prompted several influential reviewers to advise many Apple customers not to buy the Duo.

Fans waiting outside Apple stores may find that scarce stock frustrates their plans. Availability without a reservation depends on the country, Apple told Reuters: supplies are limited in the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe. Customers in China, France, Hong Kong, India, and Japan can buy only if they have reserved online. By contrast, sales of the iPhone Duo in Macau are restricted to walk-in customers. Posts on social media and reports in the media show fans queuing hours ahead of time.

Despite becoming an established category over the years, foldable phones still have relatively limited adoption alongside conventional smartphones, market research firm IDC said. The arrival of Apple could widen the audience for this form factor.

Market Commentary: Apple Faces Its Next Foldable Phone Test

A 44% share of foldable phone sales revenue and 31% of shipments are expected to go to Apple in 2026, according to IDC. The projection puts Apple at the head of the category on both measures by 2027.

Having presented a persuasive argument for the foldable form factor, Apple now faces the task of turning enthusiasm into available products and adoption. Doing so would also open an enduring new chapter for the smartphone market.