Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the launch of the iPhone Duo,
its first folding iPhone and one of the biggest changes to the product line in years. In India, the
device will start at ₹2,99,900 for the 256GB model and go up to nearly ₹4.5 lakh for the top 2TB
version.
The iPhone Duo opens into a 7.6-inch display while offering a smaller 5.4-inch screen when
folded. It is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chipset and comes with 12GB RAM, along with a
dual rear-camera setup led by a 48MP main sensor. Apple has positioned the device around
portability, multitasking and an iPad-like experience in a passport-sized form factor.
The launch puts Apple directly into a segment where Samsung, Huawei, Google and Chinese
smartphone makers have spent years refining foldable hardware. Foldables still represent a
relatively small share of the overall smartphone market, but analysts expect Apple’s entry to
significantly increase consumer interest and raise the value of the category.
Apple also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at the same event. In India, the iPhone 18
Pro starts at around ₹1.6 lakh, while the Pro Max starts near ₹1.8 lakh. The company also
refreshed its wearables lineup with the Apple Watch Series 12, Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
The event was the first major product presentation led by new Apple CEO John Ternus.
The bigger question is whether Apple can turn foldables from an expensive niche into a
mainstream premium category. The ₹3 lakh starting price keeps the Duo firmly at the top end of
India’s smartphone market, but Apple enters with a large installed user base and strong
ecosystem advantages. With sales beginning in India on October 23, the Duo will test how
much consumers are willing to pay for Apple’s first serious rethink of the iPhone form factor in
years.
Filed by
Startup Unplugged
