According to the company, preorders for the new model will open on October 16, followed by a full retail launch on October 23.
This release marks Apple’s entry into the foldable market more than seven years after rivals like Samsung debuted their first folding devices.
Despite established competition from Google, Huawei, and others, foldable phones represented only 1.6 percent of total smartphone sales in 2025.
Apple’s transition to this form factor is significant because its design choices often influence the wider industry; several competitors have already released similarly shaped "book-style" phones—which open horizontally like a book—in anticipation of the Duo’s debut.
The iPhone Duo is constructed with a titanium frame and carries an IP68 rating, a technical standard indicating the device is protected against dust and can withstand being submerged in water.
To improve durability, Apple is using a new version of its toughened glass, called Ceramic Shield 2, on the front of the device.
While rumors of a folding Apple handset have circulated since 2017, the Duo’s arrival finally provides a hardware option for users seeking a screen that is 50 percent larger than the company's current Pro Max models.