iPhone Duo: Report predicts entire foldable series from Apple
The new iPhone Duo could be the starting point for an entire foldable family. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman also expects upgrades to the camera and Face ID.
(Image: Apple)
The new iPhone Duo could be the starting point for an entire series of foldables from Apple. A larger version called iPhone Duo Max or a cheaper iPhone Duo SE are conceivable. This forecast was made by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. Based on his information, he also expects Apple to make Face ID facial recognition and the addition of a telephoto lens to the camera a top priority in further development.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone was unveiled on September 9, 2026, as part of an event. It will go on sale on October 23 and can be pre-ordered from October 16. The device, in a passport-form factor, can be unfolded and has a 7.6-inch diagonal screen inside. On the outside, there is a 5.4-inch display.
Name leaves room for expansion
According to Gurman, the name leaves room for expansion, he wrote in his weekly newsletter Power On. Larger (Max), smaller (Mini), and cheaper (SE) variants are conceivable. However, with a starting price of almost 2300 euros for the 256 GByte version of the iPhone Duo, it is unlikely that anyone will calculate the cost of a Max option.
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According to Gurman’s information, the absence of Face ID and a telephoto camera on the Duo is only a transitional state. Gurman expects this only with the third Duo generation, according to the report. Even before its introduction, it was known that Apple was dispensing with a telephoto lens and Face ID on the foldable iPhone; technical limits in the height and depth of the components were considered the reason. This is met with incomprehension by some users. They expect a device that is hundreds of euros pricier than a Pro iPhone to offer these features. In fact, after the keynote, initial hands-on tests revealed further deficits of the Duo, for example, in the quality of the internal camera and usability for left-handed users.
According to Gurman, the solution probably lies in miniaturization. This could be accompanied by AI-assisted image processing. Initial approaches could already be seen in the planned smart home hub, which he has been expecting for some time. Apple CEO John Ternus explained in video interviews about the development of the Duo that stability and maximum flatness were the central design principles, which limited the scope for additional components from the outset.
(mki)
