--- title: "IPhone Duo folds Apple into the category Samsung opened seven years ago" description: "Apple's first foldable costs $1,999, drops Face ID for Touch ID and adds Apple Pencil support, but it weighs 254g and has rough edges." url: https://tech.skoop.news/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-gal-8678dc/ published: 2026-10-23T11:38:40.124330-04:00 modified: 2026-10-23T11:38:40.124330-04:00 section: "Tech & Apps" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Duo", "Galaxy Z Fold", "Face ID", "Apple Pencil", "Pro Max", "S Pen", "Touch ID", "Samsung", "AED", "AppleCare"] hashtags: ["#GalaxyZFold", "#FaceID", "#ApplePencil", "#Software", "#tech"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Apple_Face_ID_infrared_dot_projector.jpg/1280px-Apple_Face_ID_infrared_dot_projector.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # IPhone Duo folds Apple into the category Samsung opened seven years ago > Apple's first foldable costs $1,999, drops Face ID for Touch ID and adds Apple Pencil support, but it weighs 254g and has rough edges. Published 2026-10-23 · Tech & Apps, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Apple's first folding smartphone, the iPhone Duo, arrives seven years after Samsung pioneered the category with the Galaxy Fold. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) - The Duo has a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) - The Duo uses the A20 Pro chip, described as the same 2nm chip as the iPhone 18 Pro. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) ## A late entry with a high price Apple's first folding smartphone, the iPhone Duo, arrives seven years after Samsung pioneered the category with the Galaxy Fold. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) It launches at $1,999 and goes on sale in the UAE from 23 October. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) If you are weighing it against Samsung, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is lighter than the Duo (201g vs 254g) and AED 1,300 cheaper. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) The Duo is also heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) ## Hardware and screens The Duo has a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) The inner display has a nano-texture finish with a titanium plate underneath. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) The matte finish reduces the reflections that make creases stand out. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) The reviewer found that the inner display cannot be pressed to move at the crease. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) The hinge is made of titanium and aluminium and has more than 100 components inside. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) The Duo is rated IP68 for dust and water protection, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has an IP48 rating. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) Storage goes up to 2TB, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 tops out at 1TB. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) The Duo is eSIM-only worldwide. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) ## Chip, battery and cooling The Duo uses the A20 Pro chip, described as the same 2nm chip as the iPhone 18 Pro. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) A vapour chamber is rated for around 35% faster sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) The dual-cell battery puts one battery in each half, totalling roughly 4,883mAh. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) Apple rates the Duo at up to 31 hours of video on the inner screen and 44 hours on the outer screen. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) The reviewer found all-day battery life in a variety of situations. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) ## Cameras, Touch ID and software The Duo has a 12MP Center Stage camera on the outside and a 4MP inner camera, which is hidden under the inner display panel. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) It lacks a telephoto lens, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max offers a telephoto and a variable-aperture main camera. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) Duo Preview shows the person being photographed a live view of the camera on the outer screen. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) Every iPhone model supports Face ID except the Duo. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) It relies on Touch ID, reportedly because Face ID takes up too much space in the thin Duo. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) Touch ID returns on a flagship iPhone for the first time with the Duo. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) The Dynamic Island moved to the top-right edge around the outer selfie camera. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) The Duo is the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil on either display, with support arriving later this year. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) Samsung dropped S Pen support across the whole Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) Apple lets users split the keyboard on the inner display, and a Reachability update is coming later this year. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) The Dock sits vertically on the right-hand side and cannot be moved. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) The Duo can run a picture-in-picture video overlay, but not more than two apps on screen. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) ## Where it falls short Because the Duo is shorter than other iPhones, a MagSafe wallet sticks out past the lower edge, and Apple has no official solution. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) When unfolded and attached to a car dock or tripod, the Duo tips to one side because the magnet cannot hold it straight given its uneven weight distribution. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) Many third-party apps are not yet optimized for the outer or inner screen sizes. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) Repairs add cost. Replacing a scratched or damaged nano-texture finish costs $19, or $49 if the phone is out of warranty. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) Replacing a cracked inner display costs $999 without AppleCare+. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) ## Earlier foldable attempts Microsoft launched the Surface Duo in 2019 and discontinued it in 2024. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) The reviewer's Threads post for questions about the Duo drew 1,300 comments. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) ## What it means for you If you use a MagSafe wallet or a car dock or tripod, check the fit first, because the wallet sticks out past the lower edge and the unfolded phone tips to one side. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) If you rely on Face ID, the Duo is the one iPhone without it. [[3]](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) If you want a pen, the Duo supports Apple Pencil later this year, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has dropped S Pen support. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) If weight and price matter most, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is lighter and AED 1,300 cheaper. [[2]](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) Before you buy, note that a cracked inner display costs $999 to replace without AppleCare+. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) ## Sources 1. [8 Things to Know About the iPhone Duo](https://www.wired.com/story/8-things-to-know-about-the-apple-iphone-duo/) — Wired 2. [iPhone Duo first impressions: 5 things I love (and why the Galaxy Z Fold 8 should be nervous)](https://www.absolutegeeks.com/reviews/iphone-duo-first-impressions-5-things-i-love-and-why-the-galaxy-z-fold-8-should-be-nervous/) — Absolute Geeks 3. [Every wild thing I learned about the iPhone Duo by answering your AMA questions](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/every-wild-thing-i-learned-about-the-iphone-duo-by-answering-your-ama-questions) — YAHOO! Image: Photo: Phiarc / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_Face_ID_infrared_dot_projector.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/