Apple CEO John Ternus and marketing chief Greg Joswiak have outlined the iPhone Duo’s foldable design, development process and $1,999 starting price ahead of pre-orders on October 16. The device will reach buyers on October 23, following an Apple event that also covered the iPhone 18 Pro.
In separate interviews with Tom’s Guide and TechRadar, the executives described why Apple waited to enter the foldable-phone market, as first reported by MacRumors. Ternus said Apple approved the product only after it met the company’s design and quality bar, including durability.
Apple focused on making the unfolded screen feel whole
Joswiak said the iPhone Duo uses a wider 1:1.4 display proportion. Apple chose that shape to avoid making the handset look like two phones joined at the hinge, a common visual challenge for this category. The company also evaluated existing foldable devices before settling on its hardware and software approach.
The inner panel uses a polymer top layer rather than glass, according to the reports. Apple developed a nano-texture treatment for that surface, which Ternus described as “smooth and durable.” The material choice matters because the flexible inner screen faces different engineering constraints from the rigid glass displays used on standard iPhones.
Secrecy and software shaped Apple’s first foldable
Joswiak said Apple applied additional security measures during development and limited internal discussion of the project. He said the Duo name reflects its role as two products in one, pointing to a device that must work across folded and unfolded layouts rather than simply add a larger screen.
Apple’s move carries weight because it has not previously sold a foldable iPhone, while rival handset makers have already established the category. At $1,999, the Duo will also test whether Apple’s customer base will pay a premium for software tailored to a changing screen size and a new form factor.
Several details remain unconfirmed. The reports do not provide full specifications, dimensions or storage options, and Apple has not disclosed its nano-texture manufacturing process. Availability by country and regional pricing are also unknown, while independent testing has yet to establish how the polymer display holds up over time.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
