4. Apple iPhone Duo – Best foldable iPhone
Why we recommend it
The iPhone Duo offers something no other iPhone can: a compact phone that unfolds into a 7.6-inch tablet-like device. The larger display gives you considerably more room for multitasking, watching video, reading, gaming and creative work, while the outer screen keeps it usable as a conventional phone when closed. Add the A20 Pro chip and clever dual-screen features and it’s easily Apple’s most innovative iPhone.
Buy iPhone Duo if
Buy the iPhone Duo if you want the versatility of an iPhone and small tablet in one device, regularly multitask between apps, consume lots of content on your phone, or simply want Apple’s most distinctive new hardware. It’s particularly compelling if you value screen space and flexibility more than having Apple’s absolute best camera system.
Don’t buy iPhone Duo if
Don’t buy the Duo if value, photography or portability are your priorities. At $1,999/£1,999 it costs $800/£800 more than the iPhone 18 Pro, while lacking Face ID, a dedicated telephoto camera, variable aperture, ProRes and the Action button. At 254g it is also the heaviest iPhone in the range. For most buyers, the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max will be a better all-round purchase.
What do you get that you don’t get with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The Duo’s defining advantage is its 7.6-inch folding display, which offers around 50 percent more screen area than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and supports Split View multitasking, while the 5.4-inch outer screen keeps it usable like a compact iPhone when closed. You also get fold-specific features such as Duo Preview, Smart Take, Kid Cue, hands-free video positioning and an under-display inner camera, with Apple Pencil USB-C support coming later in 2026. The trade-off is photography: the Duo has only two 48MP rear cameras, with no dedicated telephoto, variable aperture, ProRes or Apple Log.
Key specs
The iPhone Duo transforms from a compact 5.4-inch phone into a 7.6-inch folding device, providing substantially more room for apps, video and multitasking. It combines two 120Hz ProMotion OLED displays with the A20 Pro chip, dual 48MP cameras, strong battery life and storage up to 2TB.
- Starts at: $1,999 / £1,999 (256GB)
- Displays: 5.4-inch outer + 7.6-inch folding OLED, ProMotion (120Hz)
- Chip: A20 Pro
- Storage: 256GB–2TB
- Cameras: 48MP Main + 48MP Ultra Wide, 12MP outer front camera + under-display inner camera
- Battery: Up to 44 hours of video playback on outer display; 31 hours on inner display
- Authentication: Touch ID
- Weight: 254g
Should you buy or wait?
The iPhone Duo goes on sale October 23, with pre-orders opening October 16. Buy at launch if you want Apple’s first foldable as soon as possible. If price matters more than being first, waiting until Black Friday on November 27 could bring carrier incentives or trade-in deals, although significant outright discounts on such a new and specialised device are unlikely.
