However, much to the dismay of those that leaked it, Apple didn’t actually called it the “Ultra”, instead they used the name iPhone Duo. Not only because of its dual-screen nature but also because it combines the familiar iPhone experience with the larger display of an iPad. Although maybe they’re just reserving the “Ultra” moniker for when they release a “Pro” version of the Duo, who knows?
In similar Apple fashion, they took an already established form factor and made it undoubtedly Apple. Here’s a few areas where the iPhone Duo excels at being a foldable.
The Largest iPhone Display Ever
Like the leakers have constantly teased, the Apple iPhone Duo did use a passport style form factor which gives users a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch main display, both using Apple’s Super Retina XDR LTPO OLED display.
It supports ProMotion, Always-On technology, and has a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and reflections.
A Foldable Design Built for Versatility
The reason why the passport style foldable is now getting more popular is because of the versatility it offers. Like what Apple mentioned in their keynote, they didn’t want a form factor that was awkward around apps which could be a subtle jab at Samsung’s candy-bar style foldable which had a lot of unused space especially when consuming content.
Apple also redesigned iOS 27 to make the foldable experience that much better by incorporating features like Split View, which has existed since foldables first launched but you know… Apple-fied…
Pro Performance with the A20 Pro
Inside the iPhone Duo is Apple’s A20 Pro chip which the company says can deliver up to 35% better sustained performance than last year’s iPhone 17 Pro. It also features an advanced thermal-management system and a custom vapor chamber to help dissipate all that heat.
And because Apple Intelligence plays an integral part in the company’s future, the A20 Pro chip’s Neural Engine has also been upgraded to provide substantially more computing power for Apple Intelligence features.
A Camera System Made for the Fold
Following the duo theme, Apple also put in two 48 MP Fusion camera on the iPhone Duo. The dual camera system can capture high-resolution photos and 4K Dolby Vision videos at up to 120fps. From what Apple showed in their keynote, it’s on par if not better than the non-Pro iPhones.
But where the iPhone Duo gets a leg up is in the dual screen features such as Duo Preview which allows subjects to see themselves on the frame. There’s also a feature where you can prop the iPhone Duo up and let the AI take hands-free shots for you. Plus, because it’s a foldable, you can use the rear cameras to take selfies using the cover screen as preview.
Side note though, in Apple’s keynote, they also mentioned that the main screen also has a camera for Facetime but didn’t really went into detail on the specs of the sensor. What is interesting though is that that camera is hidden underneath the display which could be a sign for Dynamic Island’s future or rather its extinction.
Big-Screen Power Without Giving Up Battery Life
Apple touts the iPhone Duo as one of the thinnest devices they’ve made which is why it’s even more impressive that it fits a 5800 mAh battery inside. I’ll admit, in the realm of Silicon Carbon batteries, the iPhone Duo’s 5800 mAh battery seems average by comparison but even you gotta admit that it’s pretty impressive even without the iPhone Duo using Si/C technology.
The company made it possible by eliminating the SIM tray and using only eSIMs to pack two batteries, one on each side. Apple says it can go 31 hours of video playback using the inner screen and up to 44 hours using the cover screen.
They’ve also omitted the iPhone Duo’s charging speed but said that the foldable charges to 50% in around 20 minutes while MagSafe or a Qi2 compatible wireless charger can reach 50% in around 30 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Although foldables have been around for almost a decade, Apple throwing its hat on the ring will certainly send shockwaves around the tech community. Especially if the company delivers on the software experience as much as they did on the hardware.
At a starting price of ₱159,990, the iPhone Duo is undeniably a premium device. But if you’re already entrenched in the Apple ecosystem or is coming from Android foldables but has been waiting for a while for an iOS version, the iPhone Duo could make the wait worthwhile.
