iPhone Duo Face ID isn’t happening yet, but it’s reportedly on Apple’s roadmap. And the third camera so many people have asked for!
A new report says facial recognition as well as a telephoto camera are Apple’s top priorities for future versions of its new foldable. Apple Intelligence could be the key to both.
Right now, the iPhone Duo leans on Touch ID and digital zoom instead. Both Face ID and a dedicated telephoto lens need more internal depth than the ultra-thin foldable can spare. And the fix won’t come from smaller hardware alone.
Why iPhone Duo Face ID needs an AI assist
Apple packed the new foldable iPhone Duo with an impressive collection of features despite its ultra-thin design. But that slim profile comes with unavoidable hardware compromises. There’s simply less physical space inside the foldable for components such as a TrueDepth system or a longer telephoto lens.
But there’s hope for the future. In the most recent Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims Face ID and a telephoto camera are the top two priorities for future iPhone Duo models.
But Gurman says Apple might manage to cram in both by the third-generation iPhone Duo. That’s still a couple of years away, so don’t expect it next year.
He goes on to say Apple Intelligence could be the key to the image processing Face ID and zoom photography needs. That would allow Apple to use smaller depth-sensing hardware and cameras.
The AI reportedly makes up the difference computationally. And we may soon get a preview of that approach.
Apple’s much-rumored smart-home hub reportedly features facial-recognition technology. That could tell us how a slimmer Face ID system might eventually work on the iPhone Duo.
The physics problem
Squeezing Face ID and a telephoto lens into the Duo isn’t just a software challenge. Gurman says it’s “fundamentally a physics problem,” since both components need real depth to work.
Face ID uses a TrueDepth camera system that projects thousands of invisible dots to map your face, while a telephoto lens needs more internal length to get optical zoom.
But these things clash with the Duo’s razor-thin design. The foldable’s open profile measures just 5.2mm. This means there’s little room for extra hardware.
Component miniaturization should close that gap a little in the next few years. Combine that with Apple’s AI push, and the future iPhone Duo starts to look like a more complete iPhone.
Foldables could get cheap over time too
Price is another barrier holding back foldables, but that’s expected to ease gradually. The iPhone Duo currently starts at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone ever made.
Apple’s Upgrade leasing program could help attract buyers. It’s currently limited to the U.S., but Gurman says Apple will eventually expand it to other countries.
And history suggests component costs will fall too. Back in 2017, an iPhone with Face ID and an OLED screen cost $999. Now, you can buy a similar device (iPhone 17e) for as low as $699 even after the recent price bump.
None of this means a cheaper, more capable iPhone Duo is coming next year. But the direction Apple is taking is clear: it wants Face ID, real zoom, and a lower price on its foldable. And it’s reportedly betting on AI to get there.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
