5 Cool New Features Exclusive To The iPhone Duo

During Apple's "Surprise & Shine" event, it introduced the new generation of the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, AirPods 5, and the all-new iPhone Duo, its first iteration of a foldable phone. With a starting price of $2,000, the iPhone Duo is a first in several features for the iPhone. Among them, this is the first foldable iPhone, the first with an under-display camera, and even though it doesn't have a telephoto lens, it has some exclusive camera perks that you can't even get with the iPhone 18 Pro models.

According to Apple's CEO John Ternus, "iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original. With an entirely new design and intuitive experiences, it brings the largest display ever on an iPhone that still fits easily in your pocket." What's interesting about this device is that it features two displays, with the outer providing 90% of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro, and the inner screen features 50% more screen area than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

While this mobile phone won't be available until October, most likely with iOS 27.1, there's a lot you should know about it so you can decide whether to get the new Pro phones or go for the hefty investment that is Apple's most innovative tech in years. These are some of the coolest new features for the iPhone Duo.

Even though Samsung has been folding phones for years now, this is a big step for Apple. The company has been rumored for years to introduce a foldable device, and while reports have ranged from a Z Flip-like device to a Z Fold-style device, it's finally known to be an innovative passport-like shape. Not only was Apple able to make the iPhone fold, but it made it fold with style. From the moment users start to fold/unfold the device, there's a glass-like animation that feels like you're transporting an app from outside in or inside out.

Apple says it's made from "grade 5 titanium for incredible strength, with an enclosure that has an elegant mirror-polished finish and a 3D-printed hinge cover with a contrasting micro-blasted finish." In other words, it's made to last for a long time, while virtually eliminating the crease. Early videos of this phone reveal that it's almost impossible to see — and even feel — the crease, something other manufacturers have been trying to fix for years.

This iPhone also features an IP68 rating, so even if it's raining, you drop it in a pool, or if you take it to the beach, it won't suffer from little debris, sand, or water messing up with the components. That said, Apple was finally able to make a foldable phone while making it feel very premium, resistant, and durable.

In total, the iPhone Duo features four cameras. The main system features a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera and a 48MP Fusion Main camera, which should give users a similar experience to what an iPhone 17 offers, with some improved iPhone 18 Pro features, like improved Photographic Styles, Spatial Video recording, and more.

On the outside, it has a 12MP Center Stage front camera, which means customers can take selfies, record videos, and chat on FaceTime while the lenses continue to follow them even if they move a bit or readjust what's displayed if someone else joins the video call in person. Still, none of these cameras are new features. As a matter of fact, when you open the iPhone Duo, you might think you've seen all the cameras, but no, there's an under-display FaceTime camera on the inside of this phone.

This breakthrough feature has been rumored for years to get to the Pro iPhones. Even though Apple doesn't reveal the megapixels of this camera, which could be a bad sign, the company was able to hide it very well (according to people who first saw this phone after the Apple event), and it only appears when you actually need to use it — such as on a FaceTime call or to take a selfie with the inner display. This way, users can always take advantage of an all-display design when the inner screen is not using a camera function.

For the first time in almost 20 years, Apple added a matte display to the iPhone. While this has become a highly desired feature, especially after Samsung introduced the Galaxy S26 Ultra with a privacy screen, Apple decided to include this display technology for a few simple yet genius reasons. First of all, a matte inner display can help with glare, which is always good when you're using your phone outside, but it also helps to hide the Duo's crease, as well as the selfie camera. Apple also says that one of the benefits of the matte display is that it feels "great to touch."

iPhone Duo users, despite having an all-new format and ways to interact with the phone, will also have a display on the iPhone that has only been available with the iPad, MacBook, and Studio Display so far. While users need to be more careful with the inner matte display, as there are specific ways to take care of it, the company added Ceramic Shield to protect the back of the iPhone, and Ceramic Shield 2, which has three times better scratch resistance than the previous display technology on the outside display, making this iPhone more resistant to everyday use. Even though we will have to wait until this foldable in the public's hands, it looks like Apple was able to develop a sturdy foldable phone.

iOS 27 has taken over the iPhone, and we think this is one of the updates everybody should get. Still, the experience iPhone Duo users will have is a lot different. First and foremost, it offers iPad experiences, like using two apps simultaneously. Another big improvement coming will be support for Apple Pencil — something unimaginable for an iPhone in almost 20 years of its existence. Besides those tablet capabilities, Apple also revamped several experiences. The dock sits on the right corner of the display, along with the Wi-Fi and cellular indicators.

The Duo can be used in multiple positions, and each of them changes how you interact with the phone. When it's standing, for example, it can enter a StandBy Mode, where you can see the calendar, get a glowing orange light when it's time to wake up in the morning, watch movies, and more. Talking about movies, if the phone is seated, you can watch the content on one side, and the other will feature buttons to control the experience, such as play/pause, advance/go back, etc.

Apple also says that this iPhone can be used perfectly in a half-folded design, landscape, portrait, and closed. Each way will make apps behave in a different manner, ensuring users always have the most optimal experience.

Last but not least, the iPhone Duo offers new ways to take photos and record videos. For example, with Smart Take, the iPhone can intelligently understand that you're posing and take a photo for you, without setting a timer. Once the photo is taken, you can do another pose and repeat. This can be used even with the iPhone seated. With Duo Preview, both people know exactly how the photo or video is going to look. When the phone is opened, the outer display shows what the photo is going to look like while the inner display shows the commands for who's taking the photo.

Kid Cue is another way to creatively use the outer display when taking a photo with the main cameras. With Apple TV-like animated backgrounds, Apple wants to help parents take photos of kids when they don't want to look at the camera. Kid Cue shows playful animations of Snoopy and other characters.

Finally, with Duo FaceTime, a second person can join the call by using the outer display. This way, more people can participate in a FaceTime call. All these camera features are exclusively available for the iPhone Duo, so not even iPhone 18 Pro users will have access to them. Still, there are several camera features that remain focused on the Pro models, and that might make you choose an iPhone 18 Pro over the iPhone Duo.