Credit: Apple On September 9, the iPhone Duo, the first Apple foldable phone, was introduced to the world, at its Cupertino event, marking the new CEO John Ternus’ first major product launch while pushing the iOS developer into a category long led by Samsung and Huawei globally.
The launch gives Apple a new flagship at a time when the iPhone remains central to its business but has changed gradually. The new iPhone for 2026 opens like a book and combines a smaller outer screen with a larger inner display, designed for multitasking, entertainment, and productivity.
Apple Enters Foldables Under New Leadership
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 and will go on sale October 23. Closed, the Apple foldable phone has a 5.4-inch outer display. Opened, it expands to a 7.6-inch inner screen, 80% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro display, for multiple apps to run, or side by side content view.
The Apple foldable phone price starts well above many traditional smartphones, placing the Duo in the premium segment.
The phone arrives as one of Apple’s biggest hardware changes in nearly two decades. It is also a key early test for Ternus, who became Apple’s CEO on September 1, after Tim Cook stepped down from the chief role and is currently acting as chairman.
“Will redefine the experience of using a foldable phone,” said John Ternus, during Apple’s event. The new iPhone for 2026 therefore carries both product and leadership significance for the company.
Apple designed the iOS to respond to different folding positions. Apps can move across the screen when the phone is partly folded, while the device can also stand in a tent-like position and work as a bedside clock. The Apple foldable phone also supports multitasking and lets users work across two apps at once.
At the center is the Apple A20 Pro chip, which powers the Duo and supports demanding workloads, AI features, gaming, and graphics. Apple says the processor includes a six-core central processing unit (CPU), seven-core graphics processing unit (GPU), and a dual 16-core Neural Engine.
These Apple A20 Pro chip specs are paired with a new thermal system intended to maintain performance during heavier use. For consumers comparing the iPhone flip phone 2026 with existing foldables, cost may become one of the biggest considerations.
Samsung Defends Its Foldable Lead
Apple enters a foldable phone market that Samsung helped establish years earlier. Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Fold in 2019 and now wants to use its experience to keep customers as Apple enters the category.
According to CNBC, the share of iOS users switching to Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold8 series was 1.6 times the level seen with the previous generation.
In the US, 30% of Galaxy Z Flip8 buyers switched from competing smartphone brands, with many buying a foldable for the first time. Samsung has also updated Smart Switch so iPhone users can transfer data to a Galaxy device wirelessly by scanning a Quick Response (QR) code, reducing one barrier for customers moving between ecosystems.
The foldable phone market could become more competitive. Counterpoint Research expects Samsung to hold 32% of global foldable smartphone shipments this year, while Apple could capture 25% after entering the segment.
Huawei also remains a strong competitor in China, increasing foldable phone market competition. For Samsung, interest around the new foldable phone may expand the category while also threatening its lead.
The “iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original,” said John Ternus.
Search demand around Apple iPhone devices could expose more consumers to foldables, creating opportunities for rivals as well as Apple. The iPhone flip phone 2026 release also gives Apple a way to test its software and the ecosystem.
Along with the Apple A20 Pro chip can persuade mainstream buyers to adopt folding designs. If demand grows, the Apple foldable phone may turn a niche category into a more important battleground across the smartphone industry.
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