1 hr ago
Apple Enters Foldable Phone Race With $1,999 iPhone Duo
Apple has made a new iPhone that folds like a passport.
When it is closed, people can use a smaller screen on the outside.
When it is opened, the phone becomes a much larger 7.6-inch screen.
Apple says this can make watching videos, reading and using several apps easier.
The phone costs about $2,000, making it one of Apple’s most expensive phones.
It uses a new chip, modem and hinge designed by Apple.
Apple also says it focuses on keeping personal information private.
Samsung and Chinese companies have already sold foldable phones for years.
Experts think Apple could make foldable phones more popular, but the price and difficulty of making the device may limit sales.
Apple unveiled the passport-shaped iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, at a Cupertino event led by CEO John Ternus.
The device has a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner screen designed for multitasking, reading, browsing and video.
The Duo starts at $1,999 globally, costs Rs 299,900 in India for its base model and is scheduled to reach stores October 23.
Apple is positioning the phone as a premium productivity device with an A20 Pro chip, C2 modem, custom hinge and privacy-focused features.
Analysts see Apple’s entry as a potential boost for foldable phones, although manufacturing complexity, limited supply and high prices remain concerns.
- Who
- Apple, led at the event by CEO John Ternus, unveiled the iPhone Duo.
- What
- Apple introduced its first foldable iPhone, a passport-shaped device that opens into a larger screen.
- Where
- The launch event took place at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California.
- When
- The phone was unveiled on September 9 and is scheduled to reach stores on October 23.
- Why
- Apple is seeking to expand the premium iPhone business, offer a larger pocket-sized display and help bring foldable phones into the mainstream.
Apple’s opportunity
Market concerns
Mainstream adoption
Apple’s opportunity
Analysts said Apple’s entry could provide the catalyst needed to move foldable phones beyond a niche audience and potentially give Apple a 40% share of the category by the end of next year.
Market concerns
Foldable phones have struggled to reach a broad audience, and the Duo’s roughly $2,000 price could restrict it largely to wealthy shoppers and Apple loyalists.
Product design
Apple’s opportunity
Apple said its custom hinge, consistent aspect ratio, titanium body and larger screen provide a more familiar and useful experience for productivity, reading and video.
Market concerns
The device arrives years after rival foldables, and Apple faces the challenge of persuading customers that its design and features justify the premium price.
Supply and business outlook
Apple’s opportunity
Analysts described the Duo as a new premium growth opportunity and another revenue stream for Apple’s iPhone business.
Market concerns
The complex display and hinge may create manufacturing challenges, while the articles also cite limited initial supply, a memory crisis and a forecast decline in the wider smartphone market.
Key facts
- Global starting price
- $1,999, or about $2,000.
- India starting price
- Rs 299,900 for the base model; prices rise to Rs 449,900.
- Displays
- A 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display.
- Processor and modem
- Apple’s A20 Pro chip and C2 cellular modem.
- Scheduled availability
- The device is expected to reach stores on October 23.
- Battery claims
- Apple cited 24 hours of mixed dual-screen use; another report cited up to 31 hours of inner-screen video and 44 hours using the outer display.
- Foldable competitors
- Samsung and Chinese companies including Huawei have sold foldable phones for years.
Quotes
John Ternus
Apple chief executive officer who unveiled the iPhone Duo
“For a device that plays such a central role in your life, a larger display would open up entirely new possibilities. We think the best way to achieve that is with a foldable design.”
indianexpress.com
“It’s entirely new and at the same time remarkably familiar. A similar size to your passport, it feels familiar to hold and comfortable to use with one hand.”
theprint.in
Paolo Pescatore
PP Foresight analyst commenting on the Duo’s business prospects
“Apple has created a new premium growth opportunity, opened up another revenue stream and injected fresh momentum into the iPhone business.”
theprint.in
Sources
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