With Apple’s September event just hours away, we may finally have a better idea of what the company’s first foldable iPhone will be called. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that the device will be known as the iPhone Duo, rather than the previously rumoured iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra.
The name is not entirely new, as leakster Majin Bu also claimed over the weekend that Apple would not use the iPhone Ultra name for its foldable and would instead call it the iPhone Duo. While Majin Bu’s track record is mixed, Gurman’s report provides additional weight to the claim, making Duo a more plausible candidate for the final retail name.
iPhone Duo Could Cost Around RM8,136
Gurman also reports that the iPhone Duo will start at around US$2,000, which works out to approximately RM8,136 based on the current exchange rate. That would make Apple’s first foldable an extremely expensive smartphone, although it would not be dramatically more expensive than some of Samsung’s highest-end foldables in Malaysia.
For comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at RM7,299, while the more premium Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra starts at RM8,099. That puts the reported US pricing of the iPhone Duo at roughly the same level as the Z Fold8 Ultra’s Malaysian starting price, although Apple’s actual local pricing could differ significantly once taxes, currency conversion and regional pricing are taken into account.
Launch Could Come Later Than iPhone 18 Pro
There may be some bad news for those hoping to get Apple’s foldable alongside its other flagship iPhones. According to Gurman, the iPhone Duo could go on sale as early as October, suggesting that it may not launch at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
That would be consistent with an earlier report from August, which claimed that Apple’s first foldable could initially launch exclusively in the US before expanding to a handful of other markets. The report attributed the limited rollout to production issues involving the foldable display and hinge, with Apple suppliers reportedly encountering more problems than expected during production verification testing.
At the time, it was also reported that Apple could simply unveil the device in September before revealing its retail price and wider availability at a later date. While Gurman’s latest report suggests the device could go on sale in October, it remains unclear whether that would apply to the US only or include other markets.
Samuel Bryngelsson / Unsplash.]
Apple Pencil Support Reportedly Included
The iPhone Duo could also have one feature that gives it an advantage over Samsung’s latest foldables: Apple Pencil support. Gurman had previously reported that Apple was testing its Pencil stylus with the foldable, but now says the device will support the accessory.
This would be notable because Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 series does not support the S Pen, despite the stylus being closely associated with the company’s larger foldable phones. If the report is accurate, Apple could therefore position stylus support as one of the iPhone Duo’s distinguishing features.
The Full Picture Due Tonight
With Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event scheduled for 2am tonight in Malaysia, we may not have to wait long to find out whether the iPhone Duo name is indeed the real deal. The event is also expected to feature new AirPods and Apple Watch models, along with a closer look at the latest version of iOS. Oh, and it’s very likely to be the first major Apple keynote to exclude Tim Cook’s signature “Good morning” greeting.
(Source: Bloomberg)
