Apple Duo costs $1,999 as first folding iPhone arrives

Apple’s first folding smartphone, the iPhone Duo, carries a sticker price of $1,999. The device arrived in stores on October 23, 2026. This launch follows seven years of competition with Samsung, which introduced the Galaxy Fold in 2019. The Duo is currently back-ordered for several weeks.

The hardware includes a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display. This size and shape are new to the company. Apple removed Face ID from the flagship line for this model. Instead, the phone uses a Touch ID sensor located on the right side. This is the first time the fingerprint reader has returned to a flagship iPhone. It has remained on the iPhone SE, iPads, and MacBooks. The Dynamic Island remains, but it now sits at the top-right edge near the outer selfie camera.

Software compatibility is the immediate concern for buyers. Many third-party apps have not been optimized for the new display sizes. These apps often appear as a narrow strip with thick black bars on the sides. Slack, Instagram, DoorDash, and WhatsApp have been updated for iOS 27.1. However, some of these, including Instagram, still show broken interface elements. Apple moved navigation elements to the right rail rather than the center bottom. Developers may fix these issues before many back-ordered buyers receive their devices.

Accessories present unique challenges. The phone supports MagSafe, but it tips to one side when unfolded and attached to a car dock or tripod. This happens due to uneven weight distribution. Third-party makers might solve this with anti-rotation magnets. Magnetic wallets also do not fit well. The Duo is shorter than other iPhones, so wallets stick out past the bottom edge. Apple offers no official fix for this issue.

Photography tools include new features. Users can take selfies with the rear cameras while previewing on the outer screen. A control labeled “Slide to show camera” brings the full camera app to the outer display. This disables the inner screen to prevent accidental touches. The phone also offers “Duo Preview,” which shows the viewfinder to the person being photographed. A separate feature, “Kids Cue,” plays Snoopy animations on the outer screen to attract a child’s attention.

Multitasking works by dragging an app to either side of the inner screen. Tapping the middle bar locks two apps as a pair. This pair is accessible from the Recent apps menu but cannot be saved as a single icon. Apple warns users not to remove the matte nano-texture finish on the inner screen. The company calls this finish an “integral” component. A damaged finish costs $19 to replace with AppleCare+ or $49 out of warranty. A cracked inner display costs $999 without AppleCare+.

Future updates will add more features. A software update later this year will add Reachability, shifting apps to the side instead of down. Another update will add support for the USB-C Apple Pencil. This stylus has no storage place on the phone.