The iPhone Duo's story began 15 years ago, not today
Apple had a folding iPhone idea 15 years ago.
iPhone Duo unfolded. | Image by Apple
Apple has finally unveiled its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, at its recently held event. While the device certainly has plenty of positives, like a vapor-cooled A20 Pro chipset, a dual-battery system, and more, I believe there are two major concerns with the foldable. The first is definitely its high pricing, especially in the Indian market, where the device is almost $1,000 more expensive than in the US.
Second is Apple's very late entry into the foldable party. Well, there isn't much to say about the pricing, as even tipsters like Mark Gurman believe that the iPhone Duo is an "ultimate status symbol phone." However, a very interesting detail has surfaced regarding Apple and its idea related to a foldable smartphone.
When Samsung launched its first folding smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, in 2019, it was believed that one of its main rivals, Apple, could step into the foldable industry anytime soon. The California giant, however, took 7 more years to enter the foldable party. It's not that Apple never thought of building a smartphone that can fold.
Ironically, the new CEO of Apple, John Ternus, who unveiled the iPhone Duo, was reportedly named as the co-inventor of the patent. The patent application was published two years later (April 4, 2013), and two more years passed before the patent was granted (January 6, 2015). It was then on September 9, 2026, that the first foldable from Apple was showcased to the world at the Surprise and Shine event.
In essence, if the details shared by Ice Universe are accurate, then it suggests that Apple was among the first few smartphone manufacturers who considered the possibility of a foldable, even though it took almost 15 years to come up with a product.
The short answer is that this is how Apple operates. The company usually avoids being first to market in any category and apparently believes in allowing its competitors to test the waters before entering with a highly refined, best-in-class version of a product. For instance, Samsung released its first smartwatch back in 2013, but instead of quickly launching its own version, Apple waited until 2015 before releasing the first Apple Watch.
The two-year gap most likely allowed the company to avoid the battery and design issues that early movers like Samsung faced in smartwatch development. All that said, it is definitely not the case that Apple was sitting idle between the time the patent was granted and the iPhone Duo's release date. The company was actively working on developing the best version of a foldable device.
In 2016, there were rumors that Apple had partnered with LG to build flexible OLEDs for foldable smartphones. Then, in 2024, the tech giant received approval for a patent titled "Hinges for Folding Devices," covering the hinge mechanism of foldables.
The good news for Samsung fans is that, in addition to being one of the first major smartphone manufacturers to launch a foldable, it was also one of the first brands to file a patent for a foldable device. Compared to Apple, which filed its patent in 2011, Samsung's patent was filed in 2009.
Although Apple might be late to the party, it has apparently come up with one of the most refined foldables. We will certainly share more details about it once we get our hands on the device, especially how it compares to rivals like the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo start on 16 October 2026.
Apple's first foldable took 15 years to arrive
When Samsung launched its first folding smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, in 2019, it was believed that one of its main rivals, Apple, could step into the foldable industry anytime soon. The California giant, however, took 7 more years to enter the foldable party. It's not that Apple never thought of building a smartphone that can fold.
Interestingly, the company first conceived the idea of a foldable phone way back in 2011, as per the iPhone Duo timeline shared by a highly trusted source, Ice Universe. The tipster reports that Apple filed a patent application titled "Flexible electronics devices," covering foldable devices, on September 30, 2011.
iPhone Duo Timeline
— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) September 13, 2026
September 30, 2011: Apple files a patent application titled “Flexible Electronic Devices,” covering foldable devices, with John P. Ternus named as a co-inventor.
April 4, 2013: The patent application is published.
January 6, 2015: The patent is granted as… pic.twitter.com/DeWgu1SFcZ
Ironically, the new CEO of Apple, John Ternus, who unveiled the iPhone Duo, was reportedly named as the co-inventor of the patent. The patent application was published two years later (April 4, 2013), and two more years passed before the patent was granted (January 6, 2015). It was then on September 9, 2026, that the first foldable from Apple was showcased to the world at the Surprise and Shine event.
Do you think Apple decision of waiting this long to enter the foldable market is justified?
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But why is Apple late to foldables?
The short answer is that this is how Apple operates. The company usually avoids being first to market in any category and apparently believes in allowing its competitors to test the waters before entering with a highly refined, best-in-class version of a product. For instance, Samsung released its first smartwatch back in 2013, but instead of quickly launching its own version, Apple waited until 2015 before releasing the first Apple Watch.
In 2016, there were rumors that Apple had partnered with LG to build flexible OLEDs for foldable smartphones. Then, in 2024, the tech giant received approval for a patent titled "Hinges for Folding Devices," covering the hinge mechanism of foldables.
Samsung still wins
The good news for Samsung fans is that, in addition to being one of the first major smartphone manufacturers to launch a foldable, it was also one of the first brands to file a patent for a foldable device. Compared to Apple, which filed its patent in 2011, Samsung's patent was filed in 2009.
iPhone Duo: one of the most refined foldable
Although Apple might be late to the party, it has apparently come up with one of the most refined foldables. We will certainly share more details about it once we get our hands on the device, especially how it compares to rivals like the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo start on 16 October 2026.
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