iPhone Duo

Last updated: 16 October 2026

What the iPhone Duo is

Apple announced the iPhone Duo on 9 September 2026, at the same event as the iPhone 18 Pro. It folds like a book. The outer screen works as a normal phone. The inner screen opens out to 7.6 inches, which is closer to a small tablet.

Both screens refresh at up to 120Hz and can stay on in low power. The inner screen also has Apple's nano-texture finish, which cuts reflections under bright lights. Inside, the Duo runs the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro, so the extra money goes on the screens and the hinge rather than on speed.

What the iPhone Duo does

• Two screens: a 7.6-inch folding display inside and a 5.4-inch display on the front.
• Cameras: two 48MP rear cameras, Main and Ultra Wide, with up to 2x optical-quality zoom. There is a 12MP camera on the outer screen and a FaceTime camera hidden under the inner screen.
• Group photos: Smart Take takes the shot once everyone in it is ready. Duo Preview shows the people you are photographing a live preview on the outer screen. Kid Cue plays animations there to get a child to look at the lens.
• Battery: up to 24 hours of typical use, or up to 44 hours of video on the outer screen and 31 hours on the inner one, according to Apple.
• Charging: 50% in around 20 minutes with a 60W-capable USB-C adapter, plus MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging at up to 25W.
• Unlocking: Touch ID in the side button, which works with the phone open or closed.
• Water: rated IP68, which Apple says covers a depth of 6 metres for up to 30 minutes.

Key facts

• Price: £1,999 for 256GB, £2,199 for 512GB, £2,599 for 1TB and £3,199 for 2TB
• Colours: Star White and Night Sky
• Chip: A20 Pro with a 6-core CPU and 7-core GPU
• Size closed: 117.8 x 84.1mm and 11.3mm thick, a little smaller than a UK passport
• Size open: 117.8 x 164.6mm and 5.2mm thick
• Weight: 254g, about the same as a 250g block of butter
• Frame: titanium, with a 3D-printed titanium hinge cover
• SIM: eSIM only, with no SIM tray
• In the box: the phone and a 1m USB-C cable, with no power adapter
• Apple accessories: the iPhone Duo Case at £79 and the Folio with Kickstand at £129

iPhone Duo pre-order and delivery dates

Pre-orders open at 1pm UK time on Friday 16 October, on apple.com/uk and in the Apple Store app. Since Monday 12 October, Apple's buy page has let you choose your colour and storage and save them to your Apple account. That means checkout on the day comes down to payment and delivery. Apple shows the delivery date for your postcode at checkout.

The first phones arrive from Friday 23 October, which is also the day Apple Stores start selling it. Apple says selected networks and retailers will sell the iPhone Duo from the same day, but it has not named them yet. The iPhone Duo pre-order guide covers Apple Trade In values and what to sort out before you order.

Who the iPhone Duo suits

• People who carry a phone and a small tablet: the inner screen handles reading, video and two apps side by side, so one device can do both jobs.
• People who take a lot of group photos: Smart Take and Duo Preview are only on the Duo, and both use the outer screen to help the people in the shot.
• People with a recent iPhone to trade in: Apple Trade In offers up to £855 for an iPhone 17 Pro Max in perfect condition, which brings a 256GB Duo down to £1,144.

The iPhone Duo's limits

At £1,999, the Duo costs £800 more than the iPhone 18 Pro, and both run the same chip. For the price of the 2TB Duo you could buy an iPhone 18 Pro and still have £2,000 left over.

The zoom is shorter than on the iPhone 18 Pro. The Duo has no telephoto lens, so it stops at 2x optical-quality zoom, while the 18 Pro reaches 8x. If photos are the main reason you upgrade, the iPhone 18 Pro review covers that camera in detail.

There is no Face ID and no Action button. You unlock it with Touch ID in the side button instead.

It only takes an eSIM. Your network has to send your plan to the phone digitally, so check it can before the Duo arrives. The SIM-only deals comparison covers three networks that do.

There is no charger in the box. The fastest charging needs a USB-C adapter of 60W or more, so budget for one if you do not already own one.

Apple Pencil (USB-C) support is "coming later this year", according to Apple, so it will not work on the day the phone arrives. This is also Apple's first folding hinge and first folding screen. Nobody outside Apple has used one for a year yet, so there are no long-term owner reports to read.

Where to buy the iPhone Duo in the UK

Until 23 October, Apple is the only place to order the iPhone Duo. Its iPhone Duo specifications page has the full list of features, and the buy page has both colours and all four storage sizes.

iPhone Duo on Apple UK

If £1,999 is more than you want to spend, a refurbished iPhone 17 Pro started at £832 on Back Market when I checked. Every iPhone guide on the site sits on the iPhone guides hub.

iPhone Duo FAQs

How much is the iPhone Duo in the UK?

£1,999 for 256GB, £2,199 for 512GB, £2,599 for 1TB and £3,199 for 2TB, when I checked Apple's UK store on 14 October 2026.

When can I buy the iPhone Duo?

Pre-orders open at 1pm UK time on Friday 16 October. Deliveries and Apple Store sales start on Friday 23 October.

Does the iPhone Duo have a SIM tray?

No. It only takes an eSIM, so your network has to issue you one.

Is the iPhone Duo waterproof?

It is rated IP68, which Apple says covers a depth of 6 metres for up to 30 minutes.

Does the iPhone Duo come with a charger?

No. The box holds the phone and a 1m USB-C cable. For the fastest charging, Apple says you need an adapter of 60W or more.

How heavy is the iPhone Duo?

It weighs 254g, about the same as a 250g block of butter.

More from CoolCuration

• iPhone Duo pre-order UK: trade-in values, the eSIM catch and who should skip it.
• iPhone 18 Pro review: the £1,199 alternative with the 8x zoom.
• Belkin UltraCharge Pro 5K: an 8.8mm magnetic power bank that snaps on to a MagSafe iPhone.
• Back Market discount code: £10 off a first order of £100 or more, if a refurbished iPhone makes more sense.
• (Not Boring) Camera: a free iPhone camera app with live colour styles.

Apple sets its prices and dates and can change them without notice. Product photograph: Apple.

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