Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo introduces a distinctive passport-shaped foldable design, promising a refined user experience and high-quality hardware, positioned to disrupt the foldable market during the Diwali launch in India.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is still weeks from sale in India, but even a brief hands-on is enough to show that this is not a routine expansion of the line-up. Apple unveiled the device on 9 September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, which are already on sale, while the Duo is due in India on 23 October, timed for the Diwali shopping period. According to India Today Tech, the phone feels strikingly different in the hand from anything else in Apple’s range.
The company has taken a distinctive route with the Duo’s form factor. Instead of following the more familiar book-like foldables or compact flip phones, Apple has opted for a “passport” shape with rounded edges and a straight spine. The result is a folded device that sits naturally in the hand and is easier to carry than many rival foldables, although it may still feel broad for users with smaller hands. Apple has also used the same aspect ratio for both displays, which helps the phone feel coherent whether it is open or closed.
That design choice is not only aesthetic. Apple says the 5.4-inch outer display and 7.6-inch inner panel share a square-root-of-two ratio, the same proportion used in paper sizes such as A4 and A5. In practice, that means the software can move between the two screens more cleanly, and developers can divide the interface without losing visual consistency. India Today Tech said that uniformity makes the software feel unusually polished for a foldable, with transitions between displays appearing smooth rather than awkward.
The hinge is another area where Apple appears to have focused on feel as much as engineering. According to Apple’s launch details, the custom mechanism uses more than 100 components, while the hands-on report said the magnets create a firm, satisfying snap without making the phone hard to open. The inner display’s matte finish also stands out. Apple says it is intended to reduce glare on a larger panel, but the practical benefit may be a subtler crease and a more premium impression overall. India Today Tech said the fold is visible only faintly and is barely noticeable to the touch.
Under the hood, Apple has paired the foldable body with the A20 Pro chip, a titanium frame, Ceramic Shield protection and IP68 resistance, as the company confirmed in its newsroom announcement. Touch ID is built into the side button rather than using Face ID, and the inner display carries an under-panel front camera. The rear camera system is not expected to match the iPhone 18 Pro range, which reflects a limitation common to foldables. Even so, the early verdict from India Today Tech is that the Duo may not outgun the Pro phones on raw hardware, but it could set a new standard for the overall foldable experience.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
