Apple's iPhone Duo Lands at $2,000: Foldable Gamble or Genius?
Apple just ended years of foldable rumors by unveiling the iPhone Duo, its first foldable, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Duo starts at $2,000 / £2,000 / €2,300 / ₹300,000, putting it squarely against Samsung's Z Fold8. GSMArena is running a weekly poll asking whether you'll buy any of the three new iPhones. Here's what's actually on the table.
The iPhone Duo: Apple's Foldable Finally Exists
Apple's first foldable is real, and it's not cheap. The iPhone Duo starts at $2,000 / £2,000 / €2,300 / ₹300,000. That's close to the Z Fold8's $1,900 / £1,700 / €2,000 / ₹180,000 in most regions, though India is a glaring exception. Apple says the Duo has the largest display of any iPhone so far, pitched for multitasking, and its hinge lets it stand on its own for video and video calls. Cameras include a 48MP 1/1.28-inch main, a 48MP 120-degree ultra-wide, and an under-display camera inside. The A20 Pro chip sits atop the Geekbench charts.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: The Spec Bumps That Matter
The iPhone 18 Pro brings Apple's first 2nm chip, the A20 Pro, plus a 48MP main camera with variable aperture (f/1.5-f/4.0). Battery gains are modest: 4,056mAh SIM and 4,288mAh eSIM, versus 3,998mAh and 4,252mAh on the 17 Pro. The 18 Pro Max shares those upgrades but with bigger battery jumps: 5,391mAh SIM and 5,567mAh eSIM, against 4,823mAh and 5,088mAh on the 17 Pro Max. Apple also raised prices on the iPhone 17, 16, and Air models, and discontinued the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max from its own store.
The Foldable Fight: Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei
The Z Fold8 is the Duo's strongest rival and is widely available. The new Xiaomi 18 Fold isn't expected in North America, and the Huawei Pura X Max isn't expected outside China. That leaves a short list of wide foldables for most buyers. GSMArena notes a detailed specs comparison between the Duo and Z Fold8 for those weighing the two. The real question isn't whether the Duo is impressive — it's whether Apple's first foldable justifies its price against a rival that already has a track record in the category.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, starts at $2,000 / £2,000 / €2,300 / ₹300,000.
- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max bring the A20 Pro, Apple's first 2nm chip, and a variable-aperture 48MP main camera.
- The Z Fold8 is the Duo's strongest rival at $1,900 / £1,700 / €2,000 / ₹180,000 in most regions.
- Apple raised prices on the iPhone 17, 16, and Air models and discontinued the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.
- GSMArena is polling readers on whether they'll buy the Duo, 18 Pro, or 18 Pro Max.
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