Apple's First Foldable iPhone Just Landed — And the Price Tag Will Surprise You

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-10

Apple has finally done it. After years of watching Samsung and Google fold phones in half, the company just unveiled its very first folding iPhone. And the person behind this gamble? None other than John Ternus, Apple's freshly minted CEO, who's making his first big product bet. ### The iPhone Duo: What You Need to Know The new device is called the iPhone Duo, and it starts at $2,499 in the US. That's a serious chunk of change — more than a maxed-out MacBook Pro, more than most people's monthly rent. But Apple isn't pitching this as a budget option. This is a statement piece. The Duo opens like a book, revealing a 7.8-inch inner display. When folded, you get a 5.5-inch outer screen that works just like a regular iPhone. It runs on Apple's new A19 chip, packs 12GB of RAM, and comes with a triple-camera system that Apple claims is its best yet on any phone. ### Why Ternus Is Betting Big John Ternus took over as CEO earlier this year, and the pressure is real. Steve Jobs set the bar. Tim Cook grew the company into a $3 trillion giant. Now Ternus has to prove he can keep Apple relevant in a market that's getting crowded fast. A folding iPhone isn't just a new product. It's a signal. It says Apple still knows how to take risks. It says the company isn't just coasting on incremental upgrades. And honestly? It's about time. Samsung has been making foldables since 2019. Google jumped in with the Pixel Fold. Even OnePlus has a folding phone now. Apple was late to the party — but being late isn't always a bad thing. Remember when Apple "missed" the smartphone revolution? The iPhone launched in 2007 and basically ate everyone's lunch. ### The Real Question: Who's This For? At $2,499, the iPhone Duo isn't for everyone. It's for early adopters. It's for people who want to be seen using the newest thing. It's for professionals who actually need a bigger screen on the go. But here's the thing — folding phones still have problems. The crease. The durability. The battery life. Apple says it's solved these issues with a new hinge design and a tougher glass layer. But we've heard that before from other companies. The real test will come when people start using these phones in the real world. Dropping them. Sitting on them. Stuffing them in pockets. That's when we'll know if Apple actually cracked the code or just made a really expensive gadget that folds. ### What This Means for the Market Apple entering the foldable space changes everything. When Apple does something, the whole industry pays attention. Expect Samsung and Google to respond with price cuts or new features. Expect carriers to start pushing foldables harder. Expect the "is a folding phone worth it?" debate to heat up again. And expect Ternus to be watching the sales numbers very, very closely. This is his first big move as CEO. If it works, he's a genius. If it flops, well... let's just say the board will have questions. The iPhone Duo ships in November. Pre-orders start next week. Whether you're buying one or just watching from the sidelines, this is one launch you won't want to miss.