Apple unveils its first foldable, the iPhone Duo

Wed, Sep 9, 2026 5:58 PM

10:58 AM PDT · September 9, 2026

Apple today introduced its first foldable device, named the iPhone Duo, at its “Surprise and Shine” iPhone event held in Cupertino. The phone is the first marquee device launched under the company’s new CEO, John Ternus.

The company said that the new device was “Inspired by the versatility of iPad” and also showed how people can use it unfolded in a vertical mode.

Unlike early iterations of foldables, which looked like vertical slabs, Apple adopted a wider form factor that could aid in a better aspect ratio while watching videos when the device is unfolded.

Rivals like Samsung and Xiaomi have already launched their version of wide foldables before the Apple launch, give the iPhone Duo can spur demand for the form factor.

According to analytics firm Counterpoint, foldables contribute to less than 2% of shipments in the overall smartphone market. However, Apple’s new phone could be an instant hit, as the analytics firm said the Duo could garner up to 25% market share by the end of the year.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Ivan covers global consumer tech developments at TechCrunch. He is based out of India and has previously worked at publications including Huffington Post and The Next Web.

You can contact or verify outreach from Ivan by emailing im@ivanmehta.com or via encrypted message at ivan.42 on Signal.

View Bio