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# Let There Be 'iPhone Duo'
- URL: https://spyglass.org/iphone-duo/
- Published: 2026-09-09T09:11:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-09T09:15:48.000Z
- Description: A few last-minute details about Apple's first foldable...
- Author: M.G. Siegler
- Tags: iphone, iphone duo, iphone fold, iphone ultra, apple, tech, apple watch, apple pencil, ipad mini

🔗 Apple to Unveil $2,000 'iPhone Duo' at High-Stakes Event • Bloomberg 

The day is upon us. Happy New iPhone Unveil Day to those who celebrate. But there's always time for one last leak – from who else, Mark Gurman:

> That’s why Apple is [jumping in now](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-08/apple-s-2-000-plus-foldable-iphone-was-a-decade-in-the-making?ref=spyglass.org). The challenge is producing something compelling enough to justify the price. Its device, called the iPhone Duo, will start at $2,000\. That makes it costlier than rival models from [Samsung Electronics Co.](https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/005930:KS?ref=spyglass.org) and others, though the price is in line with Apple’s goal for a product with costly components.  
>  
> The entry-level version will include 256 gigabytes of storage, with Apple offering higher-capacity versions that will take the price all the way up to roughly $3,000\. Apple blew through its cost goals due to the recent memory shortage, so it’s eating some of the expense to keep within reach of $2,000\. It’s also passing the costs along to consumers who buy higher capacities.

Earlier this week, Alex Kantrowitz recorded our monthly *Big Technology* podcast episode – not live just yet, will link to it when it is – where we previewed the Apple event and obviously we focused on Apple's forthcoming foldable. Part of the discussion was the name, noting they could go with something like 'iPhone Duo' – which [had been put out there previously](https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/04/14/name-of-foldable-iphone?ref=spyglass.org), but didn't have nearly the pickup of the 'iPhone Fold' or 'iPhone Ultra' – simply because it didn't really make sense to call the device the 'Ultra' when spec-wise, it was likely to lag behind the iPhone Pro models a bit (due to the unique constraints of such a device). Most notably, all the rumors point to the camera system not being as advanced as those found on the Pro models. Given how important that element is to the iPhone – yeah, it would be weird to name this the 'iPhone Ultra'. And sure enough...

'iPhone Duo' is a good name. It immediately conveys exactly what the difference is: two screens. It also pairs nicely with Apple's [most recent](https://spyglass.org/macbook-neo-thoughts/) hit product, [the MacBook Neo](https://spyglass.org/macbook-neo/). And even the various 'Pro' models. Three letters, all ending in 'o'. And yes, Apple has some history with the 'Duo' name, most notably [in the PowerBook era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerBook%5FDuo?ref=spyglass.org) of the 1990s. 

Though the name actually will hearken back to one from rival Microsoft for many: [the Surface Duo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface%5FDuo?ref=spyglass.org) will clearly look [ahead of its time](https://mgs.blog/dreaming-of-a-foldable-ipad-6e738f8f3e56?ref=spyglass.org) later today! Including, perhaps, [the incredible hinge](https://500ish.com/it-hinges-on-c2fa33d31837?ref=spyglass.org). (As an aside, some of the people driving that device at Microsoft – [most notably, Panos Panay](https://spyglass.org/amazon-phone-home/) – now work at Amazon, [perhaps working](https://spyglass.org/amazon-fire-phone-reborn-for-ai/) [on some](https://spyglass.org/amazon-ai-device/) [similar devices](https://spyglass.org/there-is-no-phone/).)

Back to the iPhone Duo, a starting price of $2,000 was [entirely](https://spyglass.org/flip-iphone/) [predictable](https://spyglass.org/iphone-air-iphone-fold/), of course. As was a specmaxxed $3,000 version [in our era of chip shortages](https://spyglass.org/apple-price-changes/). The fact that it seemingly will be shipping in October, likely after the iPhone Pro variants ship later in September, is likely related to the same issues on the supply chain. But this will add a wrinkle to some peoples' [equations](https://spyglass.org/the-3-iphone-problem/) – notably, *mine* – do you buy the iPhone 18 Pro now or wait for the iPhone Duo? *Please don't say 'why not both?' – please don't say 'why not both?' – please don't say 'why not both?'...*

The color will seemingly be an easier choice: white or 'dark blue'? [Go Blue](https://mgs.blog/go-blue-3057246edaf5?ref=spyglass.org) all the way, baby. (I'm sure some people hope it will be dark enough so as to look black.)

**One more thing:** in passing, Gurman notes that the iPhone Duo will work with the Apple Pencil. This is notable since no other iPhone models does. But it also makes sense if, when unfolded, the device is [more similar to an iPad (mini)](https://spyglass.org/iphone-fold-ipad-mini-ios/). I had long been wondering if Apple might do [a special, smaller Apple Pencil](https://spyglass.org/10-big-predictions-for-2026/#:~:text=The%20%27iPhone%20Fold%27%20is%20a%20big%20hit%20at%20launch) – don't call it a stylus, [lest you blow it](https://techcrunch.com/2011/11/05/that-iphone-keyboard-is-still-coming/?ref=spyglass.org)! – for the device. And they [seemingly debated/tested it](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-08-30/john-ternus-management-team-apple-watch-series-12-foldable-iphone-apple-pencil-mtfvmdyu?ref=spyglass.org), but presumably this will just the regular-sized variant?

**Okay, one more, one more thing:** Also buried in Gurman's report is this:

> The new Apple Watch health capabilities will come alongside a revamped iPhone Health app. Another upgrade to the watch is a feature to compete with a slew of recent AI wearables: a privacy-focused enhancement for analyzing your day and providing a summary of what took place, including conversations. The system can’t show a transcript and doesn’t record or store audio.

Um, *what*? A feature of the Apple Watch that keeps track of the... conversations you had throughout a day?! Depending on how – and how well – that works, it could become a core selling feature of the Apple Watch? 

And if Apple can really pull it off without recording... There will still be people weirded out knowing that your Apple Watch may be "listening" in real time. So this is seemingly a fairly wild feature for Apple to launch. But perhaps [testing the waters](https://spyglass.org/pervpods/) ahead of the 'EyePods' – [AirPods with cameras](https://spyglass.org/airpods-vision/), coming next year? 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/2026/09/ChatGPT-Image-Sep-9--2026--10_10_34-AM-1.png)