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Apple folds: what is the iPhone Duo and should you buy it?
Lars is a bloodhound when it comes to sniffing out bargains, including on major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. He is also handy at unravelling tech jargon and anything related to gaming.
Apple's entry into the foldable phone market starts with two new models. We've asked our mobile phones expert whether the iPhone Duo is worth splurging on, or if you should hold off.
No one expects iPhones to be cheap, but even with tech prices rising throughout 2026, the iPhone Duo costs significantly more than other folding phones.
It has some neat new features and impressive specs, but is it really worth the £2,000 price?
Here's everything you need to know ahead of its 23 October launch, including our expert's take.
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What is the iPhone Duo?
Simply put, it's Apple's first folding phone.
The Duo is an iPhone with an additional folding screen that tucks away beneath an external top screen.
It can unfold into what's essentially a small 7.6-inch tablet. Apple claims that when the Duo is unfolded, it's the slimmest iPhone and has a larger screen than any other model.
What can this Apple foldable phone do?
Apple's new-age phone includes some hi-tech features.
Once it's unfolded, you can multitask across various apps, set it up to take hands-free photos, use the front-facing screen to show someone a preview of the picture, and use 'Duo FaceTime' – a new feature that lets other people in the room join a call, rather than crowding around one screen.
There's also a feature called Kid Cue. This plays an animation on the external screen, which should (in theory) get your kids to look at the camera for pictures.
Inside, the iPhone Duo has a seven-core A20 Pro processor and 12GB of Ram. You'll get two 48-megapixel rear cameras and 12MP front-facing cameras.
It has a 5.4-inch OLED outer display, and its inner screens fold out to 7.6 inches with a pixel density of 430 pixels per inch. Apple even claims that the inner displays are built to minimise creasing.
You'll also get access to upgraded Siri AI features, including advanced photo-editing capabilities, the ability to proofread work and live translation.
Keep up to date with the latest AI developments with our AI news and advice
How does it differ from other iPhones?
Jamie Darlow, our mobile phones expert, says:
The folding screen is a first for Apple, and so is the option to multitask and open two apps at once across this vast new internal display. The outer screen is sizable too – nearly as big as the new iPhone 18’s. Inside, it will look and feel different from the other iPhones, with a matt coating that cleverly hides the front-facing camera and the crease. There’s no telephoto lens, though, and you get Touch ID instead of Face ID.
How much is the iPhone Duo in the UK?
Prices start from an eye-watering £1,999. For reference, the newest iPhone Pro Max 18 starts at £1,299.
The base iPhone Duo includes 256GB of storage; you'll need to pay extra for more. If you want 2TB of solid-state drive (SSD) space, this brings the price of Apple's folding iPhone up to £3,199.
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Our expert verdict: should you buy an iPhone Duo?
It’s too early to say, but we’d be surprised if Apple’s first foldable was a dud. It uses the same top-tier A20 chip as the iPhone 18 Pro, outperforms the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 in pixel density, and has stylus support on the way. But with prices starting from £2,000, the real question isn't whether you should buy one – it's whether you can. You're probably better off waiting a bit for prices to (hopefully) come down.
Where can I pre-order an iPhone Duo?
Pre-orders aren't open quite yet, but from 16 October, you can order the iPhone Duo directly from Apple. Just know it won't be on shelves until a week later, on 23 October.
Should stock go quickly from Apple, it's also worth checking these out:
- EE – There aren't any pre-orders available. You'll only be able to order a Duo once it's released on 23 October.
- John Lewis – iPhone Duos will be available to pre-order online from 1pm on 16 October.
- O2 – You'll be able to pre-order an iPhone Duo from 16 October.
Need a mobile deal now? Read our guide on the best smartphone deals, or use our online tool to help you compare plans, models and prices
Should I buy a different folding phone?
There are other manufacturers that have had more time to iron out the literal screen kinks and flaws of their folding phones.
We can't say for certain (yet) whether the iPhone Duo will have a litany of flaws or how it will compare with its rivals.
Our expert says:
We’ve tested foldables from Google, Motorola and Samsung, including the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 – unlock the reviews and find out how they fared. And if you’re seriously considering the Duo, you’ve got to wait until it’s released on 23 October, so you may as well wait for our review, too.
Which folding phones can you buy instead?
We've put several folding phones through our unbiased, rigorous testing.
Bear in mind that they're all Android models. If you'd prefer to stick with iOS, read our Apple smartphone reviews or nab one of the best iPhone deals instead.
You'll need to log in or join Which? to see our full reviews. Compare prices on the foldable smartphones we've tested below:
Below, read our reviews and compare prices on the folding phones we've put through our rigorous testing.
- Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030350
- Motorola Razr Fold – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50029192
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50027831
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030355
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50022243
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030355
How do we test smartphones? Read our guide on why you can trust our independent reviews.
If you're looking for the pros and cons of folding smartphones, read our guide to the best foldable and flip phones before you buy.
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