Apple brings its first foldable smartphone to retail stores ahead of launch

Apple is letting shoppers try the iPhone Duo in its retail stores ahead of its launch, marking the debut of the company's first foldable smartphone. With prices starting at $2,000 or more, preorders placed the previous week quickly sold out until January, leaving in-person store visits as the primary option for prospective buyers to test the device before committing. [1][2]

The phone features a passport-style build equipped with a matte inner screen, a minimal display crease, and two 48-megapixel rear cameras. According to CNET, the nonstandard aspect ratio of the outer cover screen can make one-handed typing awkward and leads to letterboxing or cropping during video playback. The folding format also supports split keyboards, drag-and-drop multitasking, two simultaneous apps, and half-open configurations with dedicated media controls. [2]

The arrival of the iPhone Duo pushes Apple directly into the premium foldable market against established rivals such as Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8. While early quirks remain, including the need for app developers to update software for the new aspect ratio, analysts see the hardware as Apple's most ambitious new device design in years. [1][2]