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iPhone Duo

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on iPhone Duo:

Looks like iPhone Duo avoided the curse of the crease

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Detail shot of the top of the iPhone Duo folding phone.
Thanks to its clever hinge and nano-texture glass, the iPhone Duo appears crease-free (at least for now).
Photo: Apple

Judging by social media, the iPhone Duo looks like it will be a big hit, not least because the first folding iPhone appears to have no visible screen crease when opened to full size.

That’s a big drawback for other foldable devices. Here are some other revealing tidbits about the iPhone Duo.

iPhone Duo merges iPhone and iPad into one brilliant device

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The newly unveiled iPhone Duo is a pocket-size iPad
Apple's first foldable is the iPhone Duo, not the Ultra or Fold.
Screenshot: Apple

The just announced iPhone Duo is an iPad that fits in your pocket. The 7.6-inch screen is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but folds up to be easily pocketable.

iPad users are well accustomed to side-by-side multitasking, and the Duo offers that too. And the dual-display design enables some camera tricks no other iPhone can pull off.  

“With the largest display ever on iPhone that still fits easily in your pocket, combined with the power of A20 Pro, iPhone Duo helps you stay more immersed and productive wherever you go, whether you’re enjoying content, multitasking across apps, or gaming,” said John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO.

Apple’s Surprise and Shine event: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and more

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New Apple CEO John Ternus onstage during Surprise and Shine event
John Ternus talks up the iPhone during his first event as Apple CEO.
Photo: Apple

Apple kicked off its Surprise and Shine event Wednesday with a cinematic passing of the torch as former CEO Tim Cook introduced his successor, John Ternus.

Ternus then praised the company’s crown jewel — the iPhone, which he called an “intelligent personal hub” superpowered by artificial intelligence — before unveiling a slew of new products, including the first folding iPhone, known as the iPhone Duo.

Other new and upgraded products included the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5. Plus, various Apple execs also showcased new software features coming soon in iOS 27 and the company’s other software platforms.

“iPhone sits at the center of an amazing ecosystem of intelligent features and experiences that work seamlessly across the products you use every day,” Ternus said, before name-checking the new AI-powered Siri and advanced features in the new Apple Watch and AirPods.

“Simply put, iPhone brings powerful AI capabilities together with your personal context on the device you have with you all the time,” Ternus continued. “So today, we’re going to take these experiences even further with the next generation of iPhone.”

Folding iPhone release date and specs — everything we know [Updated]

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The folding iPhone is more portable than a
We know almost everything about the folding iPhone, and it's time to start getting excited!
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

After years of rumors, Apple finally appears ready to launch the first folding iPhone. It’ll be the most significant shakeup to the basic design of an iOS device since… well, ever.

There’s no official confirmation of a foldable iPhone, of course. But the rumors are unusually detailed, covering everything from the screen size and hinge design to the processor, cameras and even the phone’s possible name.

Here’s what to expect, when and at what cost.

Everything to expect at the Apple ‘Surprise and Shine’ product launch event

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Composite image of new Apple CEO John Ternus in front of Apple's Rise and Shine event logo
John Ternus is ready to say "Hello" at Apple's Surprise and Shine event.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s September product launch event kicks off on Wednesday, and there is so much to look forward to. It’ll be a milestone for the company in multiple ways.

First off, the “Surprise and Shine” event be the first with John Ternus welcoming everyone, not Tim Cook. He became Apple CEO just days ago, and will surely be acting as ringmaster for all the announcments.

That will keep him busy, with plenty of new products on the agenda. The first folding iPhone is expected to be the star of the show, joined by the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, with potentially even more products in store.

Here’s everything expected to take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park on September 9.

iPhone Ultra reportedly won’t ditch MagSafe after all

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A concept image of the iPhone Ultra used in a story about MagSafe support in the first folding iPhone
The first folding iPhone apparently won't skip the popular MagSafe feature.
Image: Majin Bu

The first folding iPhone will support MagSafe, according to a new report that may finally settle one of the last open questions about the rumored device.

Apple reportedly found some space for MagSafe’s magnetic array despite the thin design of the foldable, likely called the iPhone Ultra. New details also surfaced about pricing, launch timing and where Apple’s folding phone is expected to excel.

Why the folding iPhone won’t support Apple Pencil

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An Apple Pencil for folding iPhone got tested, but there are significant drawbacks
An Apple Pencil for the folding iPhone supposedly went through testing .
AI image: ChatGPT/Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

The folding iPhone expected in September will open to become what is essentially a small iPad. But that doesn’t mean that it will support Apple Pencil, the stylus designed for Apple tablets.

Apple tested a version of the stylus for its upcoming foldable phone, but nixed the idea for multiple reasons, according to an unconfirmed report published Sunday. The most notable reason for cancellation: danger that the stylus might damage the iPhone’s folding screen.

iPhone 18 Pro could get a major performance boost from A20 chip

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A picture with the text A20 alongside an Apple logo used in a story about the A20 Pro chip.
The A20 Pro chip is rumored to power the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the much-rumored iPhone Ultra this fall.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s A20 Pro chip is shaping up to be a big leap forward. A new leak points to a significant jump in speed with a considerable cut in power use. This is the best look yet at the performance of a processor that will be critical to the success of Apple new flagship smartphones.

Built on TSMC’s 2-nm process, the chip is expected to make its debut in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this fall. The upgrade should mean serious performance and battery gains, but it likely won’t come cheap.

The biggest threat to the iPhone Pro Max isn’t Samsung — it’s Apple’s folding iPhone

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iPhone 18 Pro versus folding iPhone Ultra concept images
The first folding iPhone looks set to challenge the iPhone 18 Pro Max as Apple's true flagship this fall.
Photo: Majin Bu/Apple/Cult of Mac

If Apple launches the first folding iPhone next to the iPhone 18 Pro Max this fall, it won’t just add a new phone. It will force an awkward question: How many “best iPhones” can Apple sell at once?

For years, the iPhone Pro Max has been the undisputed top of the line. Now rumors point to a foldable model, possibly called the iPhone Ultra or the iPhone Fold, arriving at the same time.

Folding iPhone Ultra might not pack the big, beautiful battery we hoped for

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An AI-generated photo showing a concept of the iPhone Ultra.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone — possibly dubbed the iPhone Ultra — might come with a smaller battery than previously leaked.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

The latest leak about the first folding iPhone says Apple might not deliver the extreme battery capacity that most early rumors indicated.

If you were banking on a foldable with all-day battery life, this is worth pausing on.

3 reasons why the iPhone 18 won’t launch this fall

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Why the iPhone 18 release date won't come this fall.
Expect September to bring the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, but not the standard iPhone 18. Here's why.
Image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple could make dramatic changes to its iPhone release strategy. The major shift: the iPhone 18 release date has reportedly been pushed back to 2027.

There will still be plenty to announce in September, including three new high-end handsets. But the mid-range and entry-level versions — including the iPhone 18 — will stay under wraps for months afterward.

Expect to pay a whole lot more for a next-gen iPhone

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Analyst predicts iPhone price increases are coming
An analyst predicts the iPhone 18 Pro Max will cost much more than previously expected.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple hiked prices on Mac, iPad and more on Thursday, but not handsets — all iPhone models still cost what they did before. But an analyst warns that we should expect the iPhone models coming in the fall to cost significantly more than the current ones. That’s especially true for the iPhone Ultra.

Even so, the analyst anticipates strong iPhone sales this fall. Here’s why.

Apple plans for iPhone Ultra 2, plays wait and see on iPhone Air 3

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Apple plans iPhone Ultra 2
This foldable iPhone concept gives at least some idea about what subsequent generations could look like in fully open form.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple has already approved development of its second-generation foldable iPhone — before the first one even hits store shelves — while the future of the ultra-thin iPhone Air line stays up in the air, a prominent leaker said Thursday. So while Apple plans iPhone Ultra 2, sales worries may delay or even kill off iPhone Air 3.

Foldable iPhone hinge woes appear resolved ahead of likely September debut

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Photo of a folding Android device, used to illustrate a story about a rumored liquid metal hinge for the first folding iPhone
The hinge is a critical component of any foldable, and Apple wants the best technology possible for its first folding iPhone.
Photo: Amanz/Unsplash License

After months of swirling concern over hinge reliability, Apple’s long-anticipated foldable iPhone, aka iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold, now looks to be on solid footing for a fall launch, according to a new supply chain report Wednesday.

Why Apple’s foldable iPhone could plummet in value

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Why Apple’s foldable iPhone could plummet in value
Can Apple avoid a huge drop in resale value associated with folding smartphones?
Image: Majin Bu

Apple fans eyeing the company’s rumored foldable iPhone may want to reconsider their purchase plans, according to a new analysis Tuesday. It finds foldable smartphones hemorrhage value at an alarming rate — losing 64.6% of their original price within just a year of ownership. The question is, can Apple avoid that fate that awaits so many Android foldables?

Why the folding iPhone Ultra might launch in only one color

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Latest folding iPhone images look amazing.
The folding iPhone Ultra might debut in a neutral color, rather than a range of them.
Image: Majin Bu

Looks like we’ll be able to get the folding iPhone Ultra and any color we want, as long as what we want is white.

A noted tipster says Apple’s upcoming handset with a flexible screen could come only in that single color option. It’s not a surprising move for a device expected to be a niche product because of its premium price.

iOS 27 might finally bring split-screen multitasking to the iPhone

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A photo of a concept showing split screen multitasking on the iPhone.
With the iPhone Ultra, Apple might finally bring multitasking to the iPhone.
Photo: Techblood.in

Apple is reportedly working on new multitasking features in iOS 27 that would automatically adapt any iPhone app for landscape and split-screen layouts.

With the rumored folding iPhone on the horizon, a lack of multitasking would translate to a waste of screen real estate. But this rumored capability could mean your entire app collection would work instantly, without Apple waiting for developers to redesign their apps.

Leaker: Foldable iPhone with liquid metal hinge undergoing carrier testing

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Photo of a folding Android device, used to illustrate a story about a rumored liquid metal hinge for the first folding iPhone
The hinge is a critical component of any foldable, and Apple wants the best technology possible for its first folding iPhone.
Photo: Amanz/Unsplash License

Apple is building its long-anticipated folding iPhone around a liquid metal hinge, and the device has now actually reached mobile carriers around the world for compatibility testing, a prominent Apple supply chain leaker said Tuesday.

Dark cherry in, cosmic orange out in iPhone 18 Pro color lineup

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iPhone 17 Pro edited to a dusty purple color, showing the camera plateau
This image shows what iPhone 18 Pro could look like in dark cherry red (Pantone 6076).
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

New supply chain information reveals the four iPhone 18 Pro colors Apple might release this September. The popular and vibrant cosmic orange is gone, with a dark, wine-colored cherry red in its place, according to a new report.

How Apple’s folding iPhone will crack the crease problem

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folding iPhone concept = How Apple's folding iPhone will crack the crease problem
A folding iPhone concept shows open and closed versions of the new handset.
AI image: ChatGPT/Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever looked at a foldable phone and winced at the visible crease down the middle of the screen, you’ll want to know what Apple has reportedly been working on as its first foldable iPhone approaches.

The industry’s approach to eliminating that unsightly fold line has fundamentally changed — and materials in development go well beyond clever hinge engineering, according to a new report. It’s how Apple’s fast-approaching folding iPhone will crack the crease problem.