iPhone Duo Price and First Reviews: Stunning at 7.6 Inches, With One Big Warning

Apple’s first foldable phone goes on sale today, 23 October, and the iPhone Duo price starts at Rs 2,99,900. The first reviews landed two days earlier, and they mostly agree. The 7.6-inch inner screen is the star of the show.

However, that is the highest price of any iPhone. You also give up a telephoto camera and Face ID to get that screen. So the real question is not whether it is good. It is whether it is good enough for what it costs.

Below, we pull together what 9to5Mac and Gizmodo found after living with it. Then we tell you plainly who should buy, who should wait and who should skip.

The Short Version

• Screens: A 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display, according to Apple.
• Price: Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB. That is Rs 1,20,000 more than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
• Best bit: Reviewers say the crease is hard to see in daily use.
• Catch: No telephoto lens, Touch ID instead of Face ID, and 254g in your pocket.
• Our view: Most people should wait for the second version. Buy now only if the big screen will change how you work.

What the First iPhone Duo Reviews Agree On

First, the screen. Both reviewers liked the inner display a lot. Gizmodo gave the phone 4 out of 5 and an Editor’s Choice award, calling it worth the wait but very expensive.

Second, the crease. 9to5Mac says it is not invisible. You see it in bright light against dark screens, and you feel it when scrolling in portrait. Even so, the reviewer says it is not a problem in normal use.

Similarly, Gizmodo calls the crease barely visible with the screen on. It adds that you can feel the hinge gears under your finger. Still, it rates the crease as milder than the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s.

Third, speed. The Duo uses the A20 Pro, the same chip as the iPhone 18 Pro. Gizmodo’s benchmark scores were nearly identical to the 18 Pro. 9to5Mac noticed it runs a bit hotter, though.

iPhone Duo Specs That Matter

Opened, the Duo is 5.2mm thick. Both reviews note that this is thinner than the iPhone Air. Closed, 9to5Mac measured 11.3mm, which is about 29% thicker than the iPhone 18 Pro.

It weighs 254g, according to both reviews. That is 5g more than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is lighter, at 201g by Gizmodo’s figures.

The frame is titanium, and the phone is rated IP68 for dust and water. Apple sells it in two colours, Star White and Night Sky. Storage runs from 256GB to 2TB.

Battery Life: Apple’s Claims vs Real Use

Apple claims up to 31 hours of video on the inner screen and up to 44 hours on the outer one. It also claims up to 24 hours of mixed use per charge.

In real use, the numbers are lower but fine. 9to5Mac ended a normal day with about 20% left, after using the big screen for most of it. Gizmodo got 5.5 to 7.5 hours of screen-on time.

On heavy days, though, Gizmodo hit low power mode after about five hours. So it is a one-day phone, not a two-day phone. Gizmodo lists the battery at 4,883mAh across two cells.

The One Big Warning: You Pay More for Less Camera

Here is the part that matters most. The Duo has a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultra-wide. There is no telephoto lens. Instead, you get a 2x crop from the main sensor.

9to5Mac rates the main camera about level with the iPhone Air’s, and a notch below the iPhone 18 Pro. Gizmodo also found it weaker in low light than the 18 Pro. In addition, the camera under the inner screen is only 4MP.

So you pay more than a Pro Max and get a weaker camera system. For anyone who shoots a lot of photos, that matters more than the crease.

Software: Good Now, Better Later

The Duo runs iOS, not iPadOS. When unfolded, it supports Split View, which is a first for an iPhone. However, 9to5Mac says apps fall into three groups.

Older apps show with black bars. Newer ones fill most of the screen. Only apps built for the latest version fully use it. Also, there is no Slide Over and no drag-and-drop into Split View yet.

Apple says Apple Pencil support arrives later this year. In other words, the phone you buy today will get better. But it also means early buyers are paying full price for an unfinished experience.

Should You Buy the iPhone Duo?

Buy it if you read, work or watch video on your phone for hours a day. A tablet-sized screen in your pocket could replace a second device.

It also suits you if you already wear an Apple Watch, because that softens the loss of Face ID.

Wait if you are curious but not desperate. This is a first-generation phone. Apps are still catching up, Pencil support is not here yet, and a second version usually fixes the first one’s gaps. That is what we would do.

Skip it if the camera is why you buy an iPhone. The iPhone 18 Pro Max gives you a telephoto lens and Face ID for Rs 1,20,000 less. Skip it too if you want the lightest foldable, since Samsung’s is lighter.

iPhone Duo Price in India and Where to Buy

The iPhone Duo price in India starts at Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB, according to BusinessToday and Beebom. The 512GB model costs Rs 3,24,900 and the 1TB model costs Rs 3,74,900.

However, the 2TB price is unclear. BusinessToday lists Rs 4,49,900, while Beebom lists Rs 4,44,900. Check Apple’s store before you order.

Sales opened today at Apple’s six Indian stores and online, BusinessToday reports. Online orders are capped at two per customer.

The same report says some grey-market sellers want up to Rs 50,000 over the list price. Do not pay it. If you can wait a few weeks, stock will catch up.

For how it stacks up against Samsung on price, see our iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 breakdown. We also covered what Apple might announce on 28 October.

Quick Answers

What is the iPhone Duo price?

It starts at Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB. Storage goes up to 2TB, and the top model costs well over Rs 4 lakh.

Does the iPhone Duo have a crease?

Yes, but it is faint. Reviewers say you mostly notice it in bright light or when you run a finger across it.

Does the iPhone Duo have Face ID?

No. It uses Touch ID in the side button. An Apple Watch can also unlock it.

Is the iPhone Duo camera as good as the Pro Max?

No. It has no telephoto lens, and reviewers found the main camera weaker than the iPhone 18 Pro’s in low light.

The Bottom Line

Judging by the reviews, the iPhone Duo is a very polished first foldable. The screen is excellent, and the crease is mostly gone. Even so, it costs Rs 1,20,000 more than a Pro Max with a better camera.

Our advice is simple. Wait for the second version unless the big screen genuinely changes your day.

What is still unknown: how the hinge and screen hold up after a year, when Apple Pencil support lands, and how fast app makers adapt. Long-term durability is the one thing no review can tell you yet.