Apple Enters Foldable Phone Race with $1,999 iPhone Duo
Synopsis
Apple has entered the foldable smartphone market with the $1,999 iPhone Duo, betting its design, ecosystem and privacy-focused AI strategy can turn a niche category dominated by Samsung and Chinese rivals into a mainstream premium market.
Apple has entered the foldable smartphone market with the launch of the $1,999 iPhone Duo, bringing its first foldable device to a category dominated for years by Samsung and Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei.
Unveiled under new CEO John Ternus, the Duo folds into a passport-like form and opens into a 7.6-inch display, giving users a larger workspace for multitasking, video and productivity.
Apple is positioning the device as an iPad-like experience that can fit into a pocket. Preorders begin October 16, with sales starting October 23.
Apple Targets a Niche Ready for Growth
The launch represents Apple's biggest redesign of the iPhone since the iPhone X in 2017. The company is entering the foldable market several years after rivals, but analysts believe its ecosystem and brand could help push the category into the mainstream.
The Duo features a titanium body, custom hinge, A20 Pro chip and Apple's new C2 modem. Its larger display supports multiple app windows, allowing users to work across applications in ways similar to an iPad. Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours of mixed use, with charging to 50% in about 20 minutes.
IDC analysts expect Apple could capture around 40% of the foldable market by the end of 2027, although foldables still represent a small share of the overall smartphone market.
Foldable Push Comes with an AI Strategy
Apple is also using the launch to strengthen its broader AI strategy. Ternus described the iPhone as a personal AI hub, with Apple emphasising on-device processing and privacy.
The company also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, starting at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively, while highlighting new AI capabilities and its move toward internally designed modem technology.
The stakes are significant. The iPhone generated $209.6 billion in sales in Apple's latest financial year, accounting for just over half of the company's revenue. The Duo therefore represents more than a new form factor. It is Apple's attempt to create another premium growth opportunity while reshaping a market its rivals entered years ago.
Source: Reuters
Vishal is an experienced Editor at Inspirepreneur Magazine with key interests in artificial intelligence, eCommerce, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and startup sector. Prior to joining Inspirepreneur, he was a Content Writer cum Correspondent at Siliconindia Magazine, where he worked on Company Profiles, Cover Stories, Executive Profiles, Feature Articles and Thought Leadership content.
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