APPLE has finally entered the foldable smartphone race with the launch of the iPhone Duo, almost two decades after the original iPhone changed the mobile phone market.
The new handset will cost from $1,999 and arrives in stores on 23 October.
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Its defining feature is a large folding display that allows the phone to open out into a much bigger screen, with Apple comparing the design to a passport.
The company says the Duo is its thinnest phone yet and, when unfolded, offers the largest display ever seen on an iPhone.
Rather than creating a separate tablet and phone experience, Apple has designed the device around the idea of having a full-sized display that can still be carried like a conventional smartphone.
John Ternus, who became Apple's chief executive on 1 September, presented the device as a major step forward for the iPhone.
"iPhone Duo brings an entirely new design while preserving everything you love from an iPhone," he said.
"It feels effortless to use and it makes new experiences possible."
Apple's first foldable arrives considerably later than those from some of its biggest rivals, with competing manufacturers having experimented with folding smartphones for several years.
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Ternus suggested Apple had taken a different approach to the technology, arguing that some existing foldable phones can feel like two devices joined together.
"Others have created foldables that just feel like two phones stuck together … scrolling through vertical content feels compromised," he said.
The company has reportedly been investigating foldable iPhone technology for years.
Apple was reported to have tested folding display prototypes in 2021, although there was no indication at the time that a commercial product was imminent.
The Duo was unveiled at Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event in Cupertino, California, where the company also introduced its latest conventional iPhone models.
The iPhone 18 Pro will start at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a starting price of $1,299.
Artificial intelligence was another major theme of the event, with Apple showcasing its Siri AI technology.
The company said the system can work with third-party applications and is already compatible with more than 300,000 apps.
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