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Apple’s iPhone Duo Targets Premium Foldable Phone Leadership
Apple has introduced a new phone called the iPhone Duo that folds open to provide a larger screen.
Foldable phones are still a small part of the smartphone market.
Analysts think Apple’s design and software could make foldable phones more useful to many people.
The phone can show multiple apps side by side and work in different folded positions.
It costs $1,999 in the United States, which is expensive but lower than some analysts expected.
In India, it starts at Rs 2,99,900 because it will initially be imported.
This high price may mean more revenue but not many more buyers there.
IDC expects Apple to become the leading foldable-phone company in 2027.
Apple’s iPhone Duo enters a foldable market that represented roughly 2% of smartphone sales.
The device starts at $1,999 in the United States, below the expected $2,500 market price.
Analysts say its hardware, software, and iOS integration could set a new premium standard for foldables.
India’s starting price is Rs 2,99,900, limiting the device’s near-term sales volume there.
IDC forecasts about 10 million iPhone Duo units and $27 billion in revenue during its first 12 months.
- Who
- Apple, analysts from IDC and Counterpoint Research, and consumers considering foldable phones.
- What
- Apple announced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, entering a premium segment dominated by Android manufacturers.
- Where
- The product is being launched in markets including the United States and India.
- When
- The device was announced on Wednesday; market forecasts cited in the article cover 2026 through 2030.
- Why
- Apple aims to expand the foldable-phone market, strengthen its premium product mix, and capture a large share of category revenue.
Reasons for strong growth
Limits and risks
Apple’s market impact
Reasons for strong growth
Analysts say Apple’s hardware, software, developer ecosystem, and premium positioning could redefine foldable phones and attract existing iPhone users.
Limits and risks
Foldables remain a small category, Android foldable sales are forecast to decline double-digit in 2026, and customer interest has weakened.
Price strategy
Reasons for strong growth
The $1,999 US price is $500 below the cited market expectation and could reduce adoption barriers for wealthy iPhone users.
Limits and risks
The device remains about 1.6 times more expensive than the average non-foldable iPhone, while India’s Rs 2,99,900 price is expected to restrict volume.
Growth in India
Reasons for strong growth
The iPhone Duo could expand India’s foldable market in monetary value.
Limits and risks
Counterpoint Research expects little near- to mid-term impact on unit sales because the device will initially be imported and subject to additional duties and taxes.
Key facts
- United States starting price
- $1,999
- India starting price
- Rs 2,99,900
- Current foldable market share
- Roughly 2% of all smartphones sold
- First-half 2026 shipment trend
- Global foldable shipments fell 15% year over year
- Projected first-year iPhone Duo sales
- Approximately 10 million units
- Projected first-year revenue
- Approximately $27 billion
- IDC forecast for Apple’s 2027 position
- The largest foldable-phone vendor
Quotes
Francisco Jeronimo
Vice-President, Devices, at IDC
“Apple is on course to capture most of the foldable revenues. It has found the rare product where scarcity and profit rise together.”
financialexpress.com
“Apple entered the foldable market and, in one keynote, set the price and the standard every rival will now be measured against.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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