Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has launched as a device that folds between a 5.4-inch phone and a 7.6-inch tablet. According to a comparison by Tom's Guide, the Duo omits several features found on the standard iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, particularly around cameras and biometrics.
Instead of Face ID, the Duo uses a Touch ID sensor built into a side button, a departure from the Face ID system Apple has used on its high-end iPhones since 2017. The Duo also lacks a telephoto lens, relying on a 48MP main and 48MP ultrawide camera; Apple says the main camera can achieve 'optical-quality' 2x zoom, but this falls short of the 18 Pro's 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom (extendable to 8x at 12MP). The Duo's front camera is 12MP, compared with the 18Mp Center Stage front camera on the 18 Pro. The Duo also does not include the 18 Pro's new variable aperture system (f/1.48 to f/4.0), the accompanying 'Pro Controls' for manual settings like white balance and shutter speed, ProRAW, ProRes RAW, spatial photo/video capture, or the Action Button, which Tom's Guide notes may have been omitted because its slot is now used by the Touch ID module.
On the supply side, Wccftech reports — citing Weibo-based tipster Instant Digital — that Apple has signed a three-year exclusive agreement with Samsung for the foldable display panels used in the iPhone Duo. Per this unconfirmed report, Apple is paying $250 for each inner foldable panel and $80 for the cover panel, with the A20 Pro chip separately costing $280. The report states Apple is using Samsung's newer M16 OLED panels, which use blue phosphorescent rather than blue fluorescent material for improved efficiency. Additional claimed display details include two layers of ultra-thin glass surrounding the OLED panel, a custom nano-textured polymer cover said to be about 40% stiffer than materials in other foldables, a scratch-resistant coating, and a titanium support plate — details that, per the report, are attributed to custom engineering choices in the display stack.
Separately, Tom's Guide reports that Apple raised prices across its entire iPhone lineup by $100 at this week's September keynote, a shift from past launches where older models often became cheaper. The budget iPhone 17e now starts at $699. This follows earlier price increases this summer on Macs, iPads, and Apple smart home devices, according to Tom's Guide. As of this report, carriers had not yet mirrored Apple's price hikes: T-Mobile was still listing the iPhone 17 Pro at $1,099 with trade-in and unlimited-plan offers making it free, and Verizon was offering the iPhone 16 for free with a new line. Tom's Guide speculates, without confirmation, that carrier pricing could change once iPhone 18 Pro preorders begin.
Tom's Guide also highlights ongoing discounts on older Apple products for budget-conscious shoppers following the Duo and AirPods 5 announcements, including an AirTag 4-pack listed at $79, described as its lowest price yet, along with deals on AirPods Max 2, MacBook models, and a trade-in offer making the iPhone 18 Pro free through T-Mobile.