Apple has launched its first foldable iPhone Duo in India, starting at ₹2.99 lakh, featuring a 7.6-inch foldable display, an A20 Pro chip, and Apple Pencil support.
Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, priced at ₹2,99,900 in India, as the company also launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its “Surprise and Shine” event in Cupertino.
The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s first foldable smartphone and its biggest design change to the iPhone lineup in years. The device features a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display, with Apple positioning it as both a large-screen device and a conventional phone that can fit in a pocket.
Apple will begin pre-orders for the iPhone Duo in India at 5:30 PM IST on October 16, with sales beginning on October 23, 2026.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, meanwhile, will be available from September 18, with pre-orders beginning on September 12.
iPhone Duo Enters India’s Foldable Market
The iPhone Duo puts Apple directly into a category that Samsung and Google have been developing for several years.
Apple’s foldable opens into a 7.6-inch display, giving users substantially more screen space for watching content, gaming and multitasking. When folded, the phone has a 5.4-inch outer display and takes on a more traditional smartphone form.
Apple says the device uses a titanium frame and hinge cover, along with a dual-battery architecture and a vapour-cooled thermal system.
The phone is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, which is also used in the iPhone 18 Pro models. The company says the chip and thermal system are designed to deliver strong performance while handling demanding workloads and on-device AI.
iPhone Duo Storage Goes Up to 2TB
Apple is offering the iPhone Duo with storage capacity extending up to 2TB.
The base model comes with 256GB of storage and is priced at ₹2,99,900 in India. The top-end 2TB version is expected to cost around ₹4.5 lakh, according to reports following the launch.
That puts the foldable firmly in Apple’s ultra-premium segment.
In the US, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, making India’s starting price considerably higher after taxes, duties, and local pricing factors.
Apple Pencil Support Comes to the Foldable
Apple is also positioning the large internal display as a productivity tool.
The iPhone Duo supports Apple Pencil, allowing users to use the expanded screen for tasks that traditionally required an iPad or larger device. Apple has also redesigned iOS 27 to take advantage of the foldable’s different screen orientations and multitasking possibilities.
The device supports split-screen experiences, giving users the ability to run multiple applications side by side.
Apple has also integrated its AI capabilities into the foldable, including Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.
iPhone Duo Gets a Dual 48MP Camera System
The foldable carries a 48MP Dual Fusion camera system, with Apple also introducing new ways to use the two-screen design while taking photographs and videos.
The camera hardware is designed to allow users to frame shots from different angles and use the outer screen when photographing another person or subject.
Apple has also focused heavily on the hinge and display engineering, areas that have remained among the biggest challenges for manufacturers of foldable smartphones.
iPhone 18 Pro Starts at ₹1.64 Lakh in India
Alongside the foldable, Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹1,64,900 in India, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at approximately ₹1,79,900. Apple’s India store confirms the ₹1,64,900 starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro.
Both models use Apple’s A20 Pro chip and introduce a new 48MP main camera with variable aperture, allowing the camera to adjust to lighting conditions and provide greater control over depth of field.
The Pro models are available with storage options extending up to 2TB.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Also Launch
Apple also introduced two new smartwatch models at the event.
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at ₹56,900 in India, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at around ₹1.1 lakh, according to pricing announced alongside the launch.
The new watches feature upgraded sensors and health-related capabilities and are powered by Apple’s newer-generation S-series silicon.
The Ultra 4 is positioned as the more rugged and premium option, while Series 12 remains Apple’s mainstream smartwatch offering.
AirPods 5 Price in India
Apple’s latest AirPods lineup was also unveiled.
The AirPods 5 will be available in India for ₹25,900, while the wireless charging case is priced separately at ₹17,900.
Apple has introduced improved active noise cancellation and additional controls with the new generation, expanding the company’s audio hardware lineup alongside its new iPhones and watches.
John Ternus Leads His First Major Apple Launch
The event was especially important because it marked the first major iPhone launch led by John Ternus as Apple CEO.
Ternus officially took over from Tim Cook on September 1, 2026, after more than 25 years at Apple. Cook became executive chairman.
A veteran of Apple’s hardware organisation, Ternus previously served as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering and was closely involved in the development of several generations of iPhone, iPad and Mac hardware.
The iPhone Duo therefore represents more than a new product category for Apple. It is also one of the first major products Ternus is presenting to consumers as the company’s chief executive.
Apple Raises Prices of Older iPhones in India.
Apple has also increased prices for several existing iPhone models in India following the latest launch.
The price of the iPhone 17 has risen to ₹99,900 for its lower-storage configuration, while the iPhone Air now starts at ₹1,49,900. Apple’s India store also lists the iPhone 16 from ₹89,900.
Reuters reported that Apple’s 2026 price increases in India were among the steepest across the markets where the company raised prices, with increases linked partly to higher memory and storage chip costs driven by strong AI-related demand.
That means Indian customers are facing higher prices not only for the new foldable but also for several existing models.
India Is Becoming More Important to Apple
The launch also comes at an important time for Apple’s India business.
India has emerged as both a growing sales market and a major manufacturing base for Apple, with iPhone production expanding significantly.
That makes Apple’s decision to launch its first foldable iPhone in India particularly significant. The country is increasingly important to Apple’s global supply chain as the company diversifies production beyond China.
The iPhone Duo’s ₹2,99,900 starting price, however, places it well above the mainstream smartphone market and makes the device primarily an ultra-premium product.
A Major Test for Apple’s Foldable Strategy
Apple has entered the foldable market later than several major competitors, but the company appears to be betting that its hardware, software and ecosystem integration can justify a premium price.
The iPhone Duo starts at ₹2.99 lakh in India, has Apple’s largest-ever iPhone display, supports Apple Pencil and introduces a redesigned iOS experience built specifically around the foldable form factor.
The real question now is whether Apple can turn foldable smartphones from a niche premium category into a significant new segment for the iPhone business.
With the first device going on sale in India on October 23, consumers will soon get their first chance to see whether Apple’s late entry can change the economics of the foldable market.
