Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first-ever foldable smartphone, at its annual product launch event on Wednesday in Cupertino, California, following months of mounting anticipation.
Presented by CEO John Ternus, the sleek, passport-style device stole the spotlight at the Apple Park event. Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on September 1, said the handset would “redefine the experience of using a foldable phone”.
Starting at US$1,999 – or HK$17,499 (US$2,231) if bought in Hong Kong – Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date comes in cheaper than industry estimates, despite soaring component costs. In mainland China, the device starts at 15,999 yuan (US$2,384), rising to 26,499 yuan for the top-tier model.
“[The] iPhone Duo ... is Apple’s attempt to frame foldability as a complete premium experience, rather than an experimental hardware feature,” said Francisco Jeronimo, vice-president for worldwide client devices at IDC.
“Apple showed up years after everyone else ... [but it] set the price and the standard every rival will now be measured against.”
Here is what you need to know about Apple’s landmark product launch, and the caveats facing buyers in mainland China.
What sets the iPhone Duo apart?
Featuring a wide-fold design, the iPhone Duo pairs a 5.4-inch outer screen with a 7.6-inch inner display that expands into a passport-sized tablet.
Ternus said that rival foldable models felt like “two phones awkwardly stuck together,” highlighting Apple’s focus on a larger canvas that felt “as natural and intuitive as an iPad”.
The device is powered by the A20 Pro, the same 2-nanometre chip used in the new iPhone 18 Pro series, complemented by an advanced thermal management system to sustain peak performance, according to Apple.
What hurdles face mainland Chinese buyers?
While mainland China is slated for the initial launch wave, with pre-orders opening October 16 ahead of an October 23 release, availability hangs in the balance. Apple’s official Chinese website notes the model “will go on sale once regulatory approval is granted”.
One obstacle is the device’s eSIM-only design. Mainland regulators require strict reviews of eSIM technology due to anti-fraud and cybersecurity concerns. A similar hurdle caused a weeks-long delay for the iPhone Air last year.
It remains unclear whether Apple can secure approval over the next six weeks before its target retail debut. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal US business hours on Thursday.
The stakes are critical for Apple in China, the world’s largest and most competitive foldable market. Domestic titan Huawei Technologies controls nearly 80 per cent of the segment.
However, Jeronimo said the new device could disrupt the status quo: “Apple has just handed Chinese buyers their first genuinely compelling reason to reconsider [other brands of foldable phones].”
Software presents additional headwinds.
Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, key features of the new line-up of phones, remain unavailable in mainland China. Despite Cook confirming in July that Apple was working to roll out Apple Intelligence locally, the event offered no update beyond confirming support for simplified Chinese language.
Meanwhile, Apple Reference Image, an opt-in feature on the iPhone 18 Pro that uses a new sensor to verify whether photos have been edited by artificial intelligence, would also be omitted in China at launch due to regulatory restrictions.
What else debuted at the event?
Alongside the foldable iPhone, Apple also introduced the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, featuring upgrades in AI, performance, battery life and camera technology.
Driven by rising memory prices, both models saw a US$100 price jump from last year, starting at US$1,199 and US$1,299 respectively.
Apple also updated its wearables ecosystem with the AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
