Apple's iPhone Duo Opens Preorders in Crowded Foldable Market

Apple has opened preorders for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, and the launch brings a question that many shoppers will ask before they tap "buy": is a foldable worth around $2,000?

The Duo marks Apple's entry into a category that has so far belonged largely to Samsung and Google. Both companies have spent several years refining folding designs, so Apple arrives after the market has matured, but it also arrives with less history in the category. Preorders opened on Friday.

For buyers weighing the purchase, the useful comparison is less about a single headline feature and more about how the Duo fits alongside existing foldables. The factors most people will check first include hinge durability, how visible the crease is on the large inner display, battery life, and how well the software handles a screen that switches between a phone-sized and a tablet-sized layout. Those are the areas where early reviews and hands-on testing will matter more than launch-day marketing.

Preorders are open now for anyone who wants the device at launch. Buyers who are undecided may prefer to wait for independent reviews before committing to a price that sits at the top of the smartphone market.