Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone in a big design of its smartphone, in a widely expected announcement on Wednesday.
That puts the tech giant in competition with companies such as Samsung, Honor and Google, who all offer folding phones and have been refining the devices for a few years.
The iPhone Duo won’t hit the Irish market until October 23rd, but attendees at the Apple launch got a brief hands-on with the device.
So what are the early thoughts on the device?
The good
The iPhone Duo’s main selling point is its versatility, with the device going from compact phone to almost mini tablet-sized.
John Ternus faces bulging in-tray as he takes over Apple
The iPhone Duo adopts a similar style to the passport-sized Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and comes with a 5.4 cover display that opens out into a 7.6 inch inner screen. That big inner screen gives you more space for multitasking, watching video or scrolling social media, and the quality seems to have got the thumbs up.
One big plus point in Apple’s favour was the lack of a crease on the inner display, something that has plagued other manufacturers in the foldable market. Add in the animations and transitions as the phone is folded and opened up, and the whole experience seems to be polished and perfected.
The inner camera is hidden under the display and only activates when needed. The lack of dynamic island, the interactive cut-out at the top of the iPhone screen, doesn’t seem to be a negative for most people who have been hands-on with the phone.
The Duo will also support the Apple Pencil stylus later this year, giving rise to concerns that this could mean the end of the iPad Mini.
The bad
The iPhone Duo comes with a hefty price tag, starting at €2,369 for the 256GB version and topping out at a whopping €3,869 for the 2TB model. That might see the device remain a niche product for now.
“The Duo is the most pricey iPhone to date and $700 more than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but it is less expensive than some commentators had feared. I have little doubt that Apple will see plenty of demand for this new device,” said FDM CCS Insight’s Ben Woods.
“However, foldables are destined to remain a niche product for the foreseeable future. Despite huge advances in design and performance, they account for less than 5 per cent of the overall market. However, the arrival of the iPhone Duo could act as a rising tide for all manufacturers, providing a boost to the foldable smartphone segment.”
Despite the hefty price tag, there are a few sacrifices with the device. The Duo’s camera set up is more basic than the iPhone’s Pro models, with a 48MP fusion main camera and a 48MP ultra-wide camera. That received less enthusiasm, especially given the premium price that the Duo comes with.
There is no FaceID in the Duo either, with biometrics limited to TouchID.
Everything else
Like last year’s iPhone Air, the new phone will be esim only, with Apple maximising the space for the Duo’s dual battery instead. That will give the device up to 31 hours of use with the larger inner display, a figure that was positively received.
Apple has only scratched the surface of what it can do in this market, but its entry is widely expected to boost what has been a niche market.
“Apple has taken its time entering this category and is now seeking to redefine what consumers should expect from a smartphone rather than simply following rivals,” said Paolo Pescatore, PP Foresight founder and analyst.
“Interestingly, higher pricing across the premium iPhone 18 line-up could also sway some customers toward the foldable, narrowing the perceived jump to a completely new form factor. Apple will now flex its considerable marketing muscle to kick-start demand and give the foldable category a big boost.”