Cupertino | 9 Sep 2026
Apple has launched its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its September product event in Cupertino. The iPhone Duo will start at ₹299,900 in India, while the iPhone 18 Pro range starts at ₹164,900, marking a major expansion of Apple’s premium smartphone line-up.
iPhone Duo starts at ₹299,900 in India
The iPhone Duo opens to reveal a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR folding OLED display and carries a 5.4-inch outer display for use when the device is closed. Apple says the inner screen is its largest iPhone display to date.
The foldable model is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip and uses a vapour-chamber cooling system. It features a dual-battery architecture and Apple’s C2 modem, while iOS 27 has been adapted for the folding design and supports multitasking across the larger display.
Apple is offering the iPhone Duo in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage configurations. Indian prices start at ₹299,900 for 256GB, rising to ₹449,900 for the 2TB version. The phone will be available in Night Sky and Star White finishes.
Pre-orders in India are scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm IST on 16 October, with sales starting on 23 October.
“iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original.”
— John Ternus, Apple CEO
Foldable design brings new display and camera features
The iPhone Duo uses a Grade 5 titanium frame and hinge cover and carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Apple says the device measures 5.2mm thick when open and weighs 254 grams.
Both displays support ProMotion with adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz, Always-On functionality and peak outdoor brightness of up to 3,000 nits. The inner display also uses a nano-texture finish designed to reduce reflections and make the fold less visually prominent.
The rear camera system includes a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera. Apple has also added a 12MP Center Stage front camera and an under-display FaceTime camera for the inner screen.
Unlike Apple’s recent flagship iPhones, the Duo uses Touch ID integrated into the side button rather than Face ID. Apple says support for the USB-C Apple Pencil will arrive later in 2026. The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide.
iPhone 18 Pro adds variable-aperture camera and longer battery life
Apple also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, powered by the same A20 Pro processor. The Pro models introduce a 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, allowing the camera to adjust for lighting conditions and depth of field.
The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Pro Max uses a 6.9-inch screen. Both models are available in Burgundy, Glacier, Silver and Black.
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max can deliver up to 43 hours of video playback, the longest claimed battery life on an iPhone. The Pro range also introduces a redesigned Dynamic Island and a next-generation vapour chamber for sustained performance.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹164,900 in India. Pre-orders will open at 5:30 pm IST on 12 September, with availability beginning on 18 September.
Apple event also brings new Watches and AirPods
Alongside the new iPhones, Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5. The event was the company’s first major product launch under chief executive John Ternus.
Apple did not introduce a standard iPhone 18 during the September event, focusing its smartphone announcements on the premium iPhone 18 Pro models and the new foldable iPhone Duo.
The iPhone Duo puts Apple directly into the foldable smartphone segment already contested by companies including Samsung and Huawei, while its ₹299,900 starting price positions it well above Apple’s conventional flagship models in India.
