Apple’s foldable ‘iPhone Duo’ will reportedly start at $2,000, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The midnight report names the long-rumored folding phone as the iPhone Duo, with a base model priced at $2,000 for 256GB of storage. A higher-tier version with up to 2TB could cost around $3,000.
Shipping is said to start as soon as October, and the device will come in two colors: white and dark blue. The report lands just hours before the first iPhone launch event since John Ternus took over as CEO of Apple. Gurman’s reporting suggests the company is ready to reveal the device, with full details expected at the event.
The Duo Name Has History
The name iPhone Duo would not be new to the tech world. Microsoft already used the title for its own folding devices, with the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. Google also applied the name to one of its many ill-fated attempts at messaging and chat.
So far, the rumored folding phone had been mostly referred to as the iPhone Ultra. The shift to Duo raises a title that carries baggage from two other companies. Apple might take the name from Microsoft’s two-screen device for its first folding iPhone.
Price Puts It in a Crowded Field
The starting price of $2,000 places the iPhone Duo above some competitors. The cheapest versions of Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 start at $1,899. The iPhone Duo would be more expensive than both.
But it would come in lower than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which carries a $2,099.99 price tag. That puts the iPhone Duo in a narrow band between the standard and ultra models from Samsung. The $3,000 top-tier model with 2TB of storage would push it well above most rivals.
The midnight report suggests it will have a price starting at $2,000 for a model with 256GB of storage, or around $3,000 for up to 2TB.
Apple has not confirmed these figures, so the final price could shift before launch. Still, the numbers give a clear picture of where Apple intends to position the device. The pricing also signals that Apple sees the folding phone as a premium product, not a mass-market one.
The gap between the two models is notable. A jump from $2,000 to $3,000 buys a large increase in storage, from 256GB to 2TB. That spread suggests Apple expects some buyers to want the highest capacity available, while others will accept the base model.
What the iPhone Duo Is Expected to Do
The report repeats earlier rumors about the device’s abilities. The iPhone Duo is expected to run side-by-side iPhone apps, allowing two applications to operate at once. It should also handle iPad-like multitasking, giving users more room than a standard iPhone.
Support for the Apple Pencil as a stylus is also expected. That would bring a tool familiar from the iPad to the folding iPhone. The mix of two-screen app support and stylus use suggests Apple is aiming at people who want to get work done on the device.
The folding shape itself remains the big question. Apple has not said how the device will fold, what the hinge will look like, or how the screen will hold up over time. The report does not answer those points either.
Samsung and Google both have lines of folding devices on the market. Apple’s entry would come later than those, but the report does not say whether that timing helps or hurts the device.
The report also does not cover battery life or cameras. Those details matter to buyers, but they are not part of the midnight report. The event will need to address them if Apple wants to win over people who are looking at other folding phones.
The Event Is Hours Away
The report comes with only a few hours left until the first iPhone launch event since Ternus took over as CEO. That timing means the official announcement is close. Apple will likely confirm the name, price, and shipping date at the event.
The outlet’s own note says readers should check back at 1PM ET / 10AM PT for all of the updates as they are revealed. The event will settle the remaining questions, including whether the Duo name sticks and if the $2,000 starting price holds.
The event will show how Ternus handles the spotlight. A folding phone would be a new step for the company.
The timing of the report also matters. A midnight leak just before the event gives the public a chance to set expectations. It also puts pressure on Apple to match or beat the numbers in Gurman’s report.
What Remains Unknown
Several details are still missing. The report does not specify the screen size when opened, the battery life, or the camera setup. It also does not say whether the iPhone Duo will replace an existing model or sit beside the standard iPhone line.
The October shipping window is also not fixed. The report says shipping is said to start as soon as October, which leaves room for delay. Production issues could push the date back, though the report does not say that.
The two colors named in the report are white and dark blue. The report does not list any other colors. Apple often offers more than two colors for its phones, but the report gives no sign of a wider set.
The report also does not say how many units Apple plans to make. It does not name the factories or the parts. Those details may come later, but they are not in the midnight report.
The Bottom Line
The iPhone Duo is a major hardware move for Apple. A $2,000 starting price puts it in premium territory. The name carries history, but Apple can give it a new meaning.
The event will provide the official details soon. Until then, the report from Gurman is the clearest picture yet of what Apple has planned. The folding iPhone is no longer a rumor — it has a name, a price, and a shipping window.
Source: theverge.com
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