After more than a decade of rumours, Apple has finally done it — the company unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, at its September 2026 event. It's the biggest redesign of the iPhone in about 20 years, and it's landing in India with a price tag that makes even the iPhone 18 Pro Max look affordable. Here's everything worth knowing before pre-orders open.


The direct answer: what is the iPhone Duo and what does it cost in India?

The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone, featuring a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display that unfolds like a small tablet. In India, it starts at ₹2,99,900 for the 256GB model, going up to ₹4,49,900 for the top 2TB variant. Pre-orders open October 16, 2026, with sales starting October 23 across India and more than 70 other markets.


Full India price list

StoragePrice (India)256GB. ₹2,99,900.

512GB ₹3,24,900

1TB ₹3,74,900

2TB ₹4,49,900

That base price makes the iPhone Duo the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold in India — well above even the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which starts at ₹1,79,900. Part of the reason: the foldable isn't currently manufactured locally, so import duties and GST add a significant chunk on top of the already-higher global price (it starts at $1,999 in the US).



What makes it different from a regular iPhone

  • Dual-display design: A 5.4-inch cover screen for quick use, and a 7.6-inch inner display when unfolded — Apple's largest-ever iPhone screen
  • Thinnest iPhone yet: Apple has packed the internals into the camera area to keep the unfolded phone remarkably slim
  • Titanium frame + Ceramic Shield: Machined titanium body with Ceramic Shield on the back and the newer Ceramic Shield 2 up front, plus an IP68 water and dust resistance rating
  • A20 Pro chip: The same processor powering the iPhone 18 Pro line, so performance isn't compromised for the folding form factor
  • Touch ID instead of Face ID: A side-mounted Touch ID sensor replaces Face ID on this model — a notable design trade-off for the foldable body
  • Camera-first features built for folding: A "Smart Take" mode that waits until everyone in a group photo is ready before snapping, dual front-and-back simultaneous capture, and a "Duo FaceTime" feature that lets someone else join a video call from the outer screen
  • Two colours: Star White and Night Sky
  • 48MP Dual Fusion camera system with up to 2x optical-quality zoom, 4K 120fps video

Should you actually buy one?

For most people in India, the honest answer is: not yet, and probably not this generation. At nearly ₹3 lakh for the base model, the iPhone Duo costs roughly double a top-spec iPhone 18 Pro Max for a first-generation folding design — and first-generation Apple products (see: the original Apple Watch, AirPods Max) tend to get meaningfully better and often cheaper within two or three years.

That said, if you're the kind of user who genuinely needs a bigger screen on the go — for reading, split-screen multitasking, or content creation — and price isn't the deciding factor, the iPhone Duo is the first foldable that brings Apple's software polish to the format, something Android foldables have had to work around for years.


Frequently Asked Questions

When does the iPhone Duo launch in India? Pre-orders begin October 16, 2026, at 5:30 PM IST, with sales starting October 23, 2026, through Apple's online store, Apple Stores, and authorised retailers.

How much does the iPhone Duo cost in India? It starts at ₹2,99,900 for the 256GB model and goes up to ₹4,49,900 for the 2TB variant.

What chip does the iPhone Duo use? It runs on Apple's A20 Pro chip, the same chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Does the iPhone Duo have Face ID? No. Apple replaced Face ID with a side-mounted Touch ID sensor built into the power button on this model.

Is the iPhone Duo water resistant? Yes, it carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.