Seven years after Samsung, Apple unveiled its first foldable phone on Wednesday, the iPhone Duo, the size of a passport when folded, during the first product presentation led by its new boss, John Ternus. “Others have created foldables that look like two phones awkwardly stuck together,” praised John Ternus in the pre-recorded video broadcast at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, California, presenting the device which, when unfolded, should offer a large screen according to him “as natural and intuitive as the iPad”.
The price of the device, available from October 23, is announced at around 2000 $ (1620 €). This high-end device enters a niche market – less than 2% of global smartphone sales – but Apple should capture almost a third this year, according to the IDC firm. “Apple’s foldable iPhone will most likely change competitive dynamics, both in China and in global markets,” said Kiranjeet Kaur, the firm’s research director.
“But actually, one last thing”
Chinese competitors have taken the lead. Huawei presented its three-fold Mate
After an hour of presenting the new products from the Apple brand, John Ternus reappeared on the screen by launching Steve Jobs’ favorite phrase – “But actually, one last thing” – to introduce the foldable device which marks the baptism of fire of this in-house engineer. He took control of the group on September 1, after 15 years of reign from logistician Tim Cook.
The iPhone Duo for 1,600 €: are you in for it?
Screen similar to that of a small tablet
Folded, the iPhone Duo appears as a phone with a 13.7 cm diagonal screen; unfolded, it offers a 19.3 cm screen, close to that of a small tablet. The Cupertino group claims to have reduced the visible fold in the middle of the screen, the main criticism made of foldables. It promises a titanium frame and a “naturally fluid” hinge.
The device unlocks with a fingerprint on the side button and will be compatible later this year with the Apple Pencil stylus, a first for an iPhone. Earlier in the presentation, Apple announced raising the starting price of its iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max by $100, to $1,199 and $1,299. This is the first increase on its flagship product since the start of the shortage of memory chips, which had already led to an increase in the price of Macs and iPads at the end of June.
