Apple introduced its latest innovation, the Duo foldable phone, marking a significant shift in the design of its flagship product. The Duo, resembling the size and shape of a passport with rounded edges, unfolds into a wide horizontal screen that can also be used vertically. The phone features a smaller single screen on the front when folded and is touted as Apple’s thinnest device when open.
Priced at $2,999 globally, the Duo starts at $1,999 in the U.S., translating to approximately $2,760 in Canadian dollars. Pre-orders for the Duo will commence on October 17, with the official release scheduled for October 23.
Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, hailed the Duo as a groundbreaking transformation for the iPhone, offering a seamless blend of innovative design and user-friendly experiences. Ternus emphasized that the Duo aims to provide an iPad-like experience in a compact, foldable device, addressing the shortcomings of existing foldable phones in terms of usability and functionality.
The launch event, led by Ternus, signifies the most notable redesign of Apple’s flagship product since the removal of the physical home button in the iPhone X back in 2017. The iPhone remains a pivotal revenue driver for Apple, accounting for over half of the company’s sales in the last fiscal year.
Ternus highlighted the new iPhone Pro models, emphasizing their integration as personal AI hubs prioritizing user privacy. Additionally, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, which do not fold, with pricing starting at $1,749 and $1,899 respectively.
A notable feature introduced by Apple is the “Apple Reference Image,” aimed at verifying the authenticity of images captured with the iPhone 18 Pro cameras. The company also announced the inclusion of the A20 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro, enhancing performance for advanced AI applications.
Furthermore, Apple revealed an updated version of AirPods with noise cancellation starting at $179, along with a premium $209 version featuring wireless charging and on-stem volume control. The tech giant also introduced the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, highlighting their enhanced health-focused capabilities.
Ternus, who previously served as Apple’s hardware chief, will play a crucial role in convincing consumers of the value proposition of a foldable device priced at around $3,000, setting a new benchmark for luxury in the tech industry.
