iPhone Duo: Price in US and India, Specs, Release Date
Apple's first foldable iPhone starts at $1,999 in the US and ₹2,99,900 in India. Here are the specs, the release timeline, and what we know about early reports of inner screens cracking along the hinge.
- The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable, with a 7.6-inch inner screen and 5.4-inch outer screen, starting at $1,999 (US) and ₹2,99,900 (India) for 256GB.
- It was announced on September 9, 2026, went on sale on October 23 in more than 70 countries including India, and is backordered into January in some markets.
- Some owners report inner screens cracking along the hinge; the cause is unconfirmed and Apple had not commented as of October 26, 2026.
The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone, a book-style phone with a 5.4-inch outer screen that opens into a 7.6-inch display. It starts at $1,999 in the US and ₹2,99,900 in India for 256GB, and went on sale on October 23, 2026, in more than 70 countries. Since launch, a small number of owners have reported inner screens cracking along the hinge; as of October 26, 2026, Apple has not commented publicly.
Here is what the iPhone Duo costs, what is inside it, when you can actually get one, and what is known so far about the screen-crack reports.
What is the iPhone Duo?
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9, 2026, at its Cupertino event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Apple CEO John Ternus called it "the most transformational change to iPhone since the original."
The Duo folds like a wide, passport-shaped book. Closed, you use the smaller outer screen; open, you get Apple's largest iPhone display, which Apple says is about 50% bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max screen. At 5.2 mm unfolded it is the thinnest iPhone Apple has made, though it measures 11.3 mm when closed.
iPhone Duo price in the US and India
Apple sells the Duo in four storage sizes, and both colours cost the same. Prices on Apple's US online store (unlocked, before sales tax) are:
- 256GB: $1,999
- 512GB: $2,199
- 1TB: $2,599
- 2TB: $3,199
In India, Apple's India store lists these prices, including taxes:
- 256GB: ₹2,99,900
- 512GB: ₹3,24,900
- 1TB: ₹3,74,900
- 2TB: ₹4,49,900
Because Indian prices include tax and US prices do not, the two are not directly comparable. Techloy's country-by-country list matches both sets of figures and puts the UK starting price at £1,999.
In the US, Apple's announcement lists Apple Card Monthly Installments from $83.29 a month, and 9to5Mac reports carrier deals worth up to $1,200 with an eligible trade-in. Apple's India page lists No Cost EMI on 3- and 6-month tenures until November 11, 2026, plus instant cashback on some bank cards. Offer terms change often, so check the official store before buying.
The price came in below some expectations. Android Authority's writer, for example, had expected about $2,200.
iPhone Duo specs
The key specifications below come from Apple's official spec page unless noted.
- Displays: 7.6-inch inner OLED (1878 x 2670) with a nano-texture finish, and 5.4-inch outer OLED (1398 x 2034). Both run ProMotion up to 120Hz and peak at 3,000 nits outdoors.
- Chip: A20 Pro on a 2nm process, the same chip as the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple does not list RAM; MacRumors and Tom's Guide report 12GB.
- Cameras: 48MP Fusion Main and 48MP Ultra Wide on the back. There is a 2x optical-quality option cropped from the main sensor, but no dedicated telephoto lens. A 12MP Center Stage camera sits on the outer screen and an under-display camera on the inner one.
- Video: 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120 fps.
- Battery: Two cells, rated for up to 24 hours of typical use, 31 hours of video on the inner screen and 44 hours on the outer. Apple does not publish the capacity; Tom's Guide lists 4,883 mAh.
- Charging: About 50% in around 20 minutes wired with a 60W or higher adapter; MagSafe and Qi2 up to 25W.
- Build: Titanium body, Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, and IP68 water and dust resistance rated to 6 metres for 30 minutes. It weighs 254 g.
- Security and SIM: Touch ID in the side button, no Face ID, and eSIM only.
- Software and colours: Ships with iOS 27.1, in Star White and Night Sky.
Apple lists support for the USB-C Apple Pencil, and its September announcement said that support would arrive later this year.
Release date and availability
Pre-orders opened on October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific, according to Apple's pre-order announcement. The phone launched on October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions, including the US, UK, China and India, with 28 more scheduled for October 30, per Apple's September release. Apple's launch-day post showed buyers at stores including Apple BKC in Mumbai.
Supply is tight. Within minutes of pre-orders opening, every configuration showed estimated ship dates around January 25, 9to5Mac reported. Techloy says India was among the markets with pre-orders or online pickup only, and no launch-day walk-in stock.
GSMArena, citing Digitimes, reports that Apple raised its first-year order target from 9.7 million to 14 million units. Apple has not confirmed that figure.
The iPhone Duo screen-crack reports
On launch day, MacRumors reported owners posting photos of inner displays failing at the fold, usually with a line of bright pixels across one side. One owner in Australia said his phone broke after being opened fewer than 20 times, and that an Apple Store replaced it right away.
Two days later, 9to5Mac counted about ten unique cases, nearly all splitting along the centre line of the hinge and leaving a block of pixels stuck glowing white. Some owners said it happened during initial setup, with no drop involved. 9to5Mac said most affected buyers got replacements at Apple Stores, while carrier customers had a harder time.
The cause is unconfirmed. In its teardown, iFixit said there is no clear answer. It found that breaks cluster near the point where a gap for a flex cable meets the central hinge support, and listed possibilities ranging from pressure or a trapped particle to a manufacturing defect.
Apple had not commented as of October 25. Its display troubleshooting guide lists horizontal or vertical lines as a symptom but does not mention cracks. Both MacRumors and 9to5Mac stress that the scale of the problem is unknown and appears small relative to the number of phones shipped.
MacRumors notes that new buyers have a two-week return window and that failures from normal use should be covered by Apple's one-year warranty. That is general information, not a guarantee; if your phone is affected, contact Apple Support or an Apple Store and check your own coverage terms.
What reviewers said
A 9to5Mac roundup of early reviews found broad agreement that the Duo is the best foldable available, but very much a first-generation product. Common criticisms were the weight, a crease that is still visible at some angles, the lack of a telephoto lens and the switch from Face ID to Touch ID. 9to5Mac's own review concluded: "For most people, a traditional iPhone is still the practical purchase right now."
Our take
Based on Apple's specs and the coverage cited here, the Duo is a polished first attempt with a price that landed lower than many expected, and the reported demand reflects that. It is also heavy, thick when closed, and now facing early crack reports whose cause nobody has pinned down.
For most buyers, the practical question is timing. With deliveries stretching into January in some markets and Apple yet to address the crack reports, waiting a few weeks costs little. If you are weighing it against Samsung's rival, see our Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs iPhone Duo comparison.
What to watch next
- The second launch wave in 28 more countries and regions on October 30, 2026.
- Any Apple statement, repair programme or software update addressing the cracked inner screens.
- Delivery times in the US and India as production ramps up.
- Apple Pencil support and other features Apple has promised for later this year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the iPhone Duo cost?
In the US, the iPhone Duo costs $1,999 (256GB), $2,199 (512GB), $2,599 (1TB) and $3,199 (2TB) before sales tax. In India, Apple lists it at ₹2,99,900, ₹3,24,900, ₹3,74,900 and ₹4,49,900 including taxes. The UK starting price is £1,999.
When was the iPhone Duo released?
Apple announced the iPhone Duo on September 9, 2026. Pre-orders opened on October 16, and it went on sale on October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions, including India. Apple says 28 more countries and regions follow on October 30, 2026.
Are iPhone Duo screens cracking?
Some owners have reported the inner screen cracking along the hinge, often leaving a line or block of white pixels; 9to5Mac counted about ten unique cases by October 25. iFixit's teardown found no clear cause, and Apple had not commented publicly as of October 26, 2026. Affected owners have reportedly received replacements at Apple Stores.
Does the iPhone Duo have Face ID?
No. The iPhone Duo uses Touch ID built into the side button and can also be unlocked with an Apple Watch. It is also eSIM-only, with no physical SIM slot.
How big is the iPhone Duo screen?
The inner folding display is 7.6 inches and the outer display is 5.4 inches. Both are OLED with ProMotion up to 120Hz. Apple says the inner screen is about 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max display.
Sources
- Apple unveils iPhone Duo, Apple Newsroom
- Open up to new possibilities with iPhone Duo, Apple Newsroom
- iPhone Duo arrives at Apple Store locations worldwide, Apple Newsroom
- iPhone Duo - Technical Specifications, Apple
- Buy iPhone Duo (US), Apple
- Buy iPhone Duo (India), Apple India
- iPhone Duo Troubleshooting Display and Multi-Touch Issues, Apple Support
- iPhone Duo now available to pre-order, prices start at $1,999, 9to5Mac
- iPhone Duo pre-orders now backordered to next year, 9to5Mac
- Some iPhone Duo displays are cracking, seemingly all in the same way, 9to5Mac
- iPhone Duo reviews: The absolute best foldable phone, but not without compromise, 9to5Mac
- iPhone Duo review: The future is foldable, 9to5Mac
- iPhone Duo: Everything We Know, MacRumors
- Crackgate? iPhone Duo Owners Report Screens Breaking Along the Hinge, MacRumors
- iFixit iPhone Duo Teardown Points to Possible Cause of Screen Cracks, MacRumors
- iPhone Duo Price by Country and Where to Buy It, Techloy
- Apple reportedly orders 44% more iPhone Duo units from its suppliers, GSMArena
- I studied the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 for a week. 5 reasons I only want Samsung's phone, Android Authority
- iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Which foldable is the best?, Tom's Guide (via Yahoo Tech)
How we wrote this
GessyMorgan explainers are built from public reporting and official sources. This post draws on the 19 sources listed above, each linked where we use it. It was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources before publishing. We did not test products, attend events or interview anyone for this article. Facts are current as of October 26, 2026, and we update the post when they change.
