Foldable iPhone name revealed, prices and availability too leak ahead of tonight's launch

Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone, reportedly named the iPhone Duo, at its event tonight. The device is tipped to stand out with Apple Pencil support, an October release window and only two launch colours.

In Short

• Reports say Apple kept the entry price steady despite memory cost pressures
• Higher storage variants could stretch to 2TB and roughly $3,000
• Apple Pencil support would extend the accessory beyond iPads for first time

Today is the day. Apple is gearing up for its big iPhone launch, and this year, there is a pretty big surprise in store: the foldable. And if we go by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s latest report, Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone will be called iPhone Duo. The book-style foldable is expected to feature a large inner display and come in just two colours, white and dark blue. But the biggest talking point could be its reported $2,000 starting price.

In a fresh round of last-minute details ahead of Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event tonight, September 9, Gurman has revealed several details about what could be one of the biggest announcements of the night. According to the report, today’s launch will mark Apple’s first step into the foldable smartphone market, with iPhone Duo taking the center stage

The report suggests that the phone will start with 256GB of storage and carry a starting price of $2,000. Higher-capacity versions could cost considerably more, with the top-end model reportedly reaching around $3,000 and offering up to 2TB of storage.

That’s a hefty price tag, and the reason is reportedly linked partly to rising component costs, including memory. Apple is said to be absorbing some of the additional costs rather than passing the full increase on to buyers. And if those prices do become official, the iPhone Duo could become one of Apple’s most expensive mainstream products yet when it goes on sale.

What to expect from iPhone Duo

Now, as for what to expect from Apple’s first foldable, let’s start with the name. There has been plenty of buzz around what Apple might call its first-ever foldable, with names like iPhone Fold and iPhone Ultra doing the rounds. But Gurman now says Apple has settled on the name iPhone Duo. If that turns out to be true, the name would make sense given the phone’s two-part folding design and would also set it apart from the rest of the iPhone lineup.

In addition, the report also suggests that the iPhone Duo will support Apple Pencil, potentially giving the stylus a new role on an iPhone for the first time. Now it remains unclear whether Apple will support its existing Pencil models or introduce a version designed specifically for the foldable. However, the larger internal display could make stylus input particularly useful on the device.

What colours will the iPhone Duo come in?

Then there are the colour options. If Gurman’s latest report is anything to go by, Apple is keeping things pretty simple for its first foldable. The iPhone Duo is expected to come in just two colours, dark blue and white, with no black option at launch.

Now, while the phone is set to make its first appearance tonight, there could be a little wait before you can actually get your hands on it.The iPhone Duo is reportedly expected to go on sale as early as October, with Apple likely keeping the foldable’s release slightly behind the main iPhone launch due to the complexity of its production.

What’s inside?

Beyond the name, price and colours, earlier reports have also given us an idea of what the iPhone Duo could look like. The foldable is expected to feature a book-style design, with a roughly 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen. Reports also suggest that the iPhone Duo will be powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, while other leaks have pointed to an ultra-thin design and Touch ID instead of Face ID.

More to expect tonight

The iPhone Duo will not be the only major product at Apple’s event. The company is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with reports pointing to camera upgrades, a smaller and improved Dynamic Island and better thermal management. The new Pro models could also cost more than their predecessors.

Apple is also expected to refresh its audio and smartwatch lineups. AirPods 5 are tipped to arrive in two versions, including a model with a wireless charging case, with improved active noise cancellation.

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected to get hardware and software upgrades, including new health features and a privacy-focused AI feature that could summarise aspects of a user’s day.

Of course, these details have not been confirmed by Apple yet, so the final details will only be clear once the company takes the stage tonight.

So, stay tuned. India Today Tech will be covering the event live from Cupertino, bringing you all the updates as they happen.

The event will begin at 10:30pm IST and will be streamed live on Apple’s website, the Apple TV app and YouTube.

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