Apple Launches iPhone Duo Foldable Amid Xiaomi Competition
Apple released the iPhone Duo foldable smartphone starting at $1,999, while Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Fold featuring an in-house processor.
Apple launched the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, featuring a passport-style design with a titanium frame and a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR internal display. The device utilizes a nano-texture matte surface to reduce glare and is powered by the A20 Pro processor running iOS 27. Key hardware changes include the replacement of Face ID with a side-button Touch ID fingerprint reader and the omission of both a telephoto lens and the Action button.
The phone introduces Split View multitasking and expanded Siri AI interfaces. It includes a 48-megapixel camera system capable of 4K recording at 120 fps, Apple Pencil support, and a dual-battery system with an internal eSIM design. Pricing ranges from $1,999 for 256GB to $3,199 for 2TB, with installment and leasing options available. High demand has already pushed some delivery dates into January 2027.
Simultaneously, Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Fold at the IFA conference in Berlin. This device also uses a passport-style design with a 7.58-inch inner display and marks the first use of the company's in-house XRing 03 processor. The Xiaomi 18 Fold features a 200-megapixel main camera and a 6,000 mAh battery, though its availability outside mainland China remains unconfirmed.
