Apple Finally Enters the Foldable Arena With iPhone Duo Under New CEO

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple Inc. introduced its first foldable smartphone at its annual product event on Wednesday, marking a major structural evolution for its flagship hardware line. The new device, designated the iPhone Duo, enters a folding hardware market long dominated by Android manufacturers.

Pre-orders for the Duo open Oct. 16 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with broad retail availability beginning Oct. 23. Offered in storage capacities ranging from 256 gigabytes to 2 terabytes, the iPhone Duo incorporates specialized camera routines that leverage automated capture algorithms, taking group photos automatically once subjects enter the frame.

To engineer the folding mechanism, Apple designed a hinge mechanism containing more than 100 custom micro-components. The company utilized machine learning models during the manufacturing process to evaluate structural tolerances, automatically matching each hinge assembly with a specific chassis housing to ensure flush alignment and minimize screen creasing.

Wednesday’s “Surprise and Shine” event at the Steve Jobs Theater inside Apple Park was the corporate public debut for Ternus as CEO. Ternus assumed the top executive role at the end of August 2026 following the retirement of Tim Cook, who led Apple for 15 years after succeeding company co-founder Steve Jobs in August 2011.

Unveiled alongside the premium iPhone 18 Pro line, the iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch flexible inner display—providing 50 percent more screen area than the flagship iPhone 18 Pro Max—and carries a starting price of $1,999. Apple’s entry into foldable devices follows years of commercial development by competitors.

Samsung launched the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, establishing a category later joined by Google’s Pixel Fold and several Asian handset makers. Apple’s delayed entry reflects its historical pattern of waiting until display durability, hinge mechanics, and software integration reach high manufacturing yields before commercial distribution.

When unfolded, the Duo represents the thinnest profile among Apple’s current smartphone offerings. The executive handoff was referenced during a pre-recorded keynote video featuring Cook assisting Ternus with presentation preparations, ending with Cook indicating Ternus and telling viewers, “Not me. That’s your guy.”

Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and previously served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. In that capacity, he oversaw key hardware development across the Mac, iPad, iPhone, and AirPods lines. He also led the engineering efforts behind Apple’s transition from Intel microprocessors to in-house Apple Silicon chips across the Mac lineup, a multi-year effort initiated in 2020.

In addition to the iPhone Duo, Apple expanded its audio portfolio with the introduction of AirPods 5, priced starting at $129. The wireless earbuds feature enhanced active noise cancellation, updated acoustic drivers, hands-free Siri integration, and real-time live language translation processed directly on the device.

Leander Kahney, editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, noted after the event that Ternus used his platform to highlight the broader engineering teams behind the hardware, drawing parallels to keynotes delivered earlier in the company’s history. Kahney emphasized that Ternus focused primarily on hardware interaction across the Apple ecosystem, linking hardware innovations directly to cross-device software functionality.

During Cook’s tenure, Apple’s market capitalization grew from approximately $300 billion to surpassing $4 trillion. In addressing the product strategy, Ternus framed the iPhone as the optimal hardware hub for artificial intelligence, citing its constant proximity to personal schedules, private communications, and daily routines.

Apple also refreshed its wearables lineup with the Apple Watch Series 12, priced at $399. The device integrates higher-frequency optical sensors to track heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) at increased sampling rates. The hardware operates in conjunction with a redesigned Health application to monitor sleep cycles, daily exertion, and cardiac activity.

Apple reiterated that its Apple Intelligence features process data locally on the device’s Neural Engine whenever possible to limit remote server exposure and uphold user data privacy. Software updates for the Apple Watch Series 12 include a live rewind tool that generates real-time spoken-word subtitles during multi-person conversations and creates automated summaries of meetings and audio recordings.