New hands-on details have emerged about Apple's first foldable handset, the iPhone Duo, unveiled alongside refreshed iPhone 18 Pro models and updated smartwatches at the company's inaugural autumn hardware event under new chief executive John Ternus. The device features a 5.4-inch external OLED screen and a 7.6-inch internal flexible OLED panel, with a titanium frame offering IP68 water and dust resistance, though early impressions suggest it is noticeably heavier and thicker than Samsung's rival Galaxy Z Fold 8. The launch marks Apple's long-awaited move into the still-niche foldable market, which currently accounts for only around 1.6% of global smartphone sales but is seen as an area of steady growth potential.

Reviewers have highlighted refined design touches, including rounded edges, a near-seamless animation when switching between the two screens, and a matte nano-texture inner display that reduces reflections and largely disguises the crease. The Duo weighs 254 grams and measures 11.3mm thick when closed, compared with the Z Fold 8's 201 grams and 9.7mm, and retains TouchID via a side button rather than FaceID, alongside a dedicated camera control. Notably, it includes an under-display front camera, a feature Samsung trialled in 2021 but has since dropped, and supports the Apple Pencil on both screens. The rear features two cameras, led by a 48-megapixel main sensor with a 2x telephoto crop mode.