Apple officially introduced the long-awaited first foldable iPhone Duo model at its September 9th event. This new device opens a new era in the iPhone family with its book-like foldable design and titanium body.

The company states that while developing the iPhone Duo, it focused on providing a natural transition between open and closed use, rather than simply offering a larger screen. While Apple argues that some existing foldable phones feel like a combination of two devices, it says that the hardware and software in the iPhone Duo were developed as a single unit.

Design and Screen Details

When closed, the iPhone Duo can be used like a classic iPhone, and Apple compares the closed dimensions of the device to a passport. When the phone is opened, a large workspace reminiscent of an iPad is revealed.

One of the striking design details on the device’s inner screen is the FaceTime camera placed under the screen. By hiding the camera behind the screen panel, Apple offers a seamless viewing area on the inner screen without a camera hole or notch.

Apple also specially developed the hinge system, one of the most critical points of foldable phones, for the iPhone Duo. The two sides of the device connect to each other in a form that creates a seamless frame.

The hinge system both precisely controls the opening and closing movement and ensures that the screen remains flat when the phone is fully opened. Titanium is used in the frame of the iPhone Duo, and this metal surface is finished with a mirror-like glossy coating.

Apple states that when the device is open, the iPhone Duo is the thinnest iPhone the company has ever developed. To achieve this slimness, a significant portion of the essential components are located in the area where the phone’s camera bump is situated.

Software Experience and Pricing

Apple isn’t simply positioning the iPhone Duo’s inner screen as a larger iPhone screen. The company says that during the development process, its goal was to create a larger screen that feels as natural and intuitive as the iPad.

The interfaces shown during the event show that home screen widgets, app icons, and various controls are still arranged according to the larger screen. Apps can also expand to take advantage of the larger screen area.

Messaging, media, and productivity apps can use the iPhone Duo’s large inner screen more efficiently. The device’s software interface also includes app controls placed on the edges and menus specific to the large screen.

The company states that it has harmonized the aspect ratios of the screens used when the phone is on or off. This allows applications to smoothly rescale when the device is folded or unfolded.

Pricing information has not yet been officially announced while Apple’s presentation continues on stage. However, according to information shared by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the starting 256 GB model of the iPhone Duo will be priced at approximately $1,999-$2,000.

The highest storage option is reported to go up to approximately $3,000. According to the same sources, sales of the device are expected to start in October, slightly later than other new iPhone models.

With the iPhone Duo, Apple is making its first direct entry into the foldable phone market, which has been dominated by Samsung, Google, and other Android manufacturers for years. The company seems to be highlighting the thin body, seamless inner screen, titanium structure, and iPad-like software experience with its first model.

What do you think about Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo?