Apple’s First Foldable iPhone Debuts with a Premium Price Tag

From Tokyo, Apple announced the iPhone Duo on Wednesday, marking its entry into the foldable smartphone arena. Although Apple pioneered the modern smartphone with the original iPhone nearly two decades ago, it has arrived relatively late to the foldable segment. Competitors such as Samsung’s Galaxy line and Google’s Pixel series have already offered foldable devices worldwide, and Huawei recently unveiled a tri‑fold prototype just ahead of Apple’s launch.

Apple’s loyal customers have long anticipated the iPhone Duo, yet early impressions suggest the device feels modestly underwhelming and lacks standout innovations compared with rivals. The pricing reflects expectations, opening at $1,999—the highest price ever for an iPhone. Given the dollar’s current strength, this cost places the Duo out of reach for many buyers across Asia.

Nikkei Asia has been tracking the iPhone Duo’s development. Earlier this year we noted Apple’s shift toward premium offerings as memory costs rose, and more recently we highlighted how the company’s rigorous quality controls could constrain the Duo’s early output.

Although Samsung and Chinese manufacturers currently lead the foldable space, widespread adoption remains elusive. Apple’s ability to shift the market will hinge on developers creating compelling apps that exploit the Duo’s flexible form factor. To achieve that, Apple must first address the Duo’s steep price, limited production capacity, and the need for higher shipment volumes to build market momentum.

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