It is Apple’s first foldable iPhone (book-style design) and is positioned as the most significant redesign of the iPhone since the original.
Key design and displays
- Form factor: Passport-sized when closed; unfolds flat like a small tablet. Titanium (grade 5) frame with a precision hinge (over 100 components) engineered for a smooth, durable feel and minimal crease.
- Inner display: 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (ProMotion, Always-On, up to 3,000 nits peak brightness). Described as the largest iPhone display ever — roughly 50% more screen area than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Nano-texture finish reduces glare and helps hide the crease.
- Outer/cover display: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with the same aspect ratio as the inner screen for consistent content scaling (Apple claims ~90% of the screen area of an iPhone 18 Pro). Also ProMotion, Always-On, and high brightness.
- Thickness: ~5.2 mm when open (thinnest iPhone ever in that state); ~11.3 mm when closed. Weight around 254 g.
- Other design notes: IP68 dust/water resistance, Ceramic Shield protection, Touch ID in the side button (Face ID is not used), speakers on both ends, and support for the USB-C Apple Pencil arriving via software update later in 2026. Available in Star White and Night Sky.
Performance, battery, and connectivity
- Chip: A20 Pro (same as iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max series), with vapor chamber cooling for better sustained performance (Apple claims up to 35% better sustained performance than the prior Pro generation in some scenarios). Includes dual 16-core Neural Engine.
- Modem: Apple’s C2 cellular modem; eSIM-only.
- Battery: Dual-battery architecture. Claimed video playback of up to 31 hours on the inner display or 44 hours on the outer display (around 24 hours mixed use). Fast charging: up to 50% in about 20 minutes (wired); MagSafe/Qi2 wireless support.
- Storage/RAM: Starts at 256 GB (up to 2 TB options); 12 GB RAM reported in coverage.
Cameras and software
- Rear cameras: Dual 48 MP setup (main + ultrawide; main supports optical-quality 2x). No dedicated telephoto lens like the Pro models. Supports advanced features including Dual Capture, photo previews on the cover screen while shooting with rear cameras, Smart Take, Kid Cue, and other fold-specific modes. 4K video up to 120 fps.
- Front cameras: Cover-screen camera plus an under-display camera on the inner screen.
- Software: Ships with a reimagined iOS experience (iOS 27.1 expected at launch) optimized for the dual-screen form factor. Features include seamless side-by-side multitasking, flexible orientations/poses (including half-folded or tabletop use), proportional content scaling across screens, and enhanced Siri AI. Several apps (Netflix, Zoom, Slack, etc.) already have or are getting optimized support.
Pricing and availability
- Starts at $1,999 for 256 GB (higher storage tiers reach $3,199 for 2 TB).
- Pre-orders begin October 16, 2026.
- Availability begins October 23, 2026 (in more than 70 countries/regions initially). Note that the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max models launched earlier in the September cycle.
Context and implications
This is Apple’s long-awaited entry into the foldable market after years of patents, rumors, and competitor dominance (especially Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series). Apple emphasizes hardware-software integration, durability, thinness when open, consistent aspect ratios, and new interaction paradigms rather than simply matching existing foldables. Early coverage highlights polished transitions, the large productive canvas, and software refinements as strengths, while noting the premium price, weight/thickness when closed compared with some rivals, and the delayed Apple Pencil support.
The device arrives alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and other updates (AirPods, Apple Watch) under new CEO John Ternus. Official details are available on Apple’s Newsroom and the iPhone Duo product page. Hands-on impressions and deeper reviews are still emerging as units reach media and retail channels ahead of the October launch.
