CUPERTINO: Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, marking one of the biggest changes to the design and functionality of the iPhone since its introduction nearly two decades ago.
The launch also marks a new era for Apple under CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook earlier this month. At his first major event as chief executive, Ternus positioned the iPhone as an increasingly important personal device for artificial intelligence, highlighting Apple’s focus on privacy.
The iPhone Duo features a passport-sized design when folded, allowing it to remain pocketable despite offering a significantly larger display.
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When unfolded, the device opens into a single, continuous 7.6-inch screen that can be used in both landscape and horizontal orientations. Apple says the Duo is also its thinnest iPhone to date.
The company is entering a foldable smartphone market currently led by Samsung and other Android manufacturers. Ternus said many existing foldable devices feel like “two phones awkwardly stuck together,” contrasting them with Apple’s approach to creating a more seamless device.
Apple has also redesigned parts of the iPhone interface for the larger display. The home-screen dock and status indicators are positioned on the right side of the Duo’s screen rather than along the bottom, making them easier to reach with a thumb.
The iPhone Duo represents Apple’s most significant attempt in years to rethink the traditional smartphone form factor as the company seeks to combine a pocket-sized iPhone with the larger workspace offered by a tablet.
