Apple's $1,999 iPhone Duo Foldable Draws Mixed First-Generation Review Ahead of Oct. 23 Launch

Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, arrives Oct. 23 priced at $1,999, but a first-generation trade-off between a pocketable tablet and phone ergonomics makes the premium hard to justify versus an iPhone 18 Pro costing $800 less, according to a WSJ review. The passport-shaped device pairs a 5.4-inch exterior screen with a 7.6-inch inner "nano-texture" display that reduces glare and hides the crease. It is wider, thicker and heavier than a Pro iPhone, straining one-handed use, and offers only 2X zoom versus 8X on the 18 Pro, plus Touch ID instead of Face ID. Battery life is rated at 24 hours versus 30 for the 18 Pro Max. Apple says more functionality is coming later this year, including Apple Pencil support. Foldables account for just 2% of the global phone market, per Counterpoint Research, with China taking over a third of sales.