LAGOS, Nigeria (Voice of Naija) Apple has finally done what millions of technology enthusiasts have been speculating about for years: it has launched a foldable iPhone called the Duo.
Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on Wednesday, September 9, saw new CEO John Ternus take the stage for the first time and unveil a product lineup that marks one of the most significant moments in the company’s history since the original iPhone in 2007.
According to NPR, the headline announcement simply: “Fold the phone: Apple’s new CEO unveils a foldable iPhone.”
The device, which Apple is officially calling the iPhone Duo, folds like a passport, closing into a compact, near-square shape and opens to reveal a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display, which Apple says is 50 percent larger than the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The outer display, at 5.4 inches, provides approximately 90 percent of the viewing area of the iPhone 18 Pro, according to Tom’s Guide’s live event coverage from Apple Park.
The iPhone Duo starts at approximately $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. The device features Touch ID integrated into the side button rather than Face ID, two front-facing cameras, and a dual camera system on the back.
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Apple confirmed that Apple Pencil support will come in a future software update.
The iPhone Duo’s production has been limited due to manufacturing challenges with its hinge mechanism and crease-free inner display, and supply is expected to be constrained at launch — with the US the first market to receive it.
John Ternus, the hardware engineering veteran who replaced Tim Cook as Apple CEO on September 1, opened the keynote by acknowledging the weight of the moment, telling the audience: “We’ve been preparing for this for a long time. Today, we get to share it with all of you.”
Ternus, who oversaw the development of Apple Silicon and the transition away from Intel chips, is widely expected to push Apple deeper into hardware innovation, and the iPhone Duo is his opening statement.
Alongside the foldable, Apple confirmed the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, both powered by the new A20 Pro chip.
MacObserver’s live event blog reported a 40 percent sustained performance improvement thanks to a redesigned vapor chamber with three times the surface area.
The iPhone 18 Pro features a 48MP main camera with variable aperture, a first for iPhone, a smaller Dynamic Island, and battery life of up to 24 hours, rising to 30 hours on the Pro Max.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199. Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and two new AirPods 5 models with active noise cancellation starting at $129 round out the lineup. iOS 27 drops on September 14.
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Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro open at midnight on Saturday, September 12. Apple deliberately moved the date from Friday, September 11, out of respect for the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Devices go on sale Friday, September 18. The iPhone Duo’s release date remains slightly uncertain due to production constraints, with some reports suggesting a staggered launch or US-only availability initially.
The iPhone Duo’s $2,000 starting price puts it well beyond the reach of most Nigerian consumers, but the story is not about who can buy it today.
Apple’s entry into foldables signals a major shift in global smartphone design that will cascade down to mid-range and affordable devices over the coming years, including the Android alternatives that dominate the Nigerian market.
Nigerian tech retailers, mobile networks, and the growing community of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs and developers should be paying close attention to the software and AI features Apple is building into iOS 27 because those capabilities will shape the apps, services, and digital economy tools that reach Nigerian users through the wider smartphone ecosystem within two to three years.
