Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, featuring a passport-style opening mechanism and a starting price of $2,000. The device is expected to begin shipping in October, marking Apple's formal entry into the foldable phone market and a significant departure from the company's traditional design philosophy.

The announcement occurs during a momentous transition at Apple, serving as the first major product launch under newly appointed CEO John Ternus, who took leadership in early September. The iPhone Duo represents the most substantial redesign to the flagship device in nearly two decades, since the original iPhone debuted in 2007, signalling a strategic expansion of Apple's product range to compete in the premium foldable segment.