Since Apple announced the date of its big September event, we've expected the company to reveal the "iPhone Ultra," its first foldable smartphone. As it turns out, half of that prediction came true: While the company did indeed showcase the first iPhone to transform from smartphone to tablet, it isn't actually called the Ultra. Instead, the company surprised us all with a new name: iPhone Duo.

iPhone Duo: Design

Credit: Apple

It's immediately apparent that the iPhone Duo has a much different design than any iPhone Apple has ever made. This device is foldable, which means it has two functioning displays, depending on how you use it. When closed, the Duo has a funkier 5.4-inch display than the one you might be used to on an iPhone, but it's fully functional. You don't actually have to open up the Duo to use it: You can text, browse Safari, play games, and do whatever you normally would on your iPhone from here. The selfie cam and two rear cameras mean you can take FaceTime calls and shoot photos and videos while the Duo is in this position. If you never wanted to open up your Duo, you would probably never have to.

Open it up, however, and you'll be greeted by a much larger 7.6-inch display. This is the benefit of foldable smartphones: You have access to a mini tablet (sometimes called a "phablet") whenever you want it. That extra screen real estate means you can view single apps in a much larger window, but also run two apps side-by-side. That's a first for any iPhone, even if it's not a first for smartphones in general. And because this is a tablet-like display, your Home Screen looks a bit more like an iPad's, complete with extra widgets and a macOS-like Dock. There's even a Dock on the outer display, and many controls are adjusted to sit on the right of the display to make them accessible using your thumb.

Interestingly, the Duo is the first iPhone in years to lack Face ID. Instead, this device marks the return of Touch ID, integrated into the Side button. (You can also unlock it with your Apple Watch.) It also supports Apple Pencil for the first time on iPhone, and includes two batteries, providing 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, and 44 hours on the outer. You can reach 50% battery in 20 minutes of charging, and five hours of use after five minutes.

It works in many different orientations: You can stand it up tent-style or like a laptop, or fold it slightly to split your keyboard. It also works in StandBy by folding it on its side.

iPhone Duo: Processor

Credit: Apple

Like the iPhone 18 Pros, the iPhone Duo comes with Apple's new A20 Pro chip. But for the Duo, the chip has a new display engine to power both screens. Apple says it offers up to 35% faster performance than iPhone 17 Pro. While I'm sure it's Apple's fastest chip yet, we'll have to wait until independent benchmarkers put it to the test to know how much better it is than the A19 Pro. The Duo also has Apple's proprietary C2 modem, which provides faster uploads and quicker reconnection to networks.

iPhone Duo: Cameras

As noted above, the iPhone Duo has four cameras: two rear cameras and two selfie cameras. Let's start with those rear cameras: Apple has a 48MP fusion lens and a 2x telephoto lens. Some might be sad about the omission of an ultrawide lens. At the same time, the Duo might not be the iPhone for users who care most about mobile photography. Perhaps it'll feel more like the cameras on the iPad: useful to have, but not exactly a selling point. Like the 18 Pro, the Duo supports 4K Time-Lapses and new Photographic Styles.

Perhaps more importantly, the Duo has two selfie cameras: one on the front display, and one on the inner display. This ensures that you can take FaceTime calls and selfies in whichever orientation you have the iPhone Duo in. Crucially, the inner camera is embedded in the display, so you don't ever see it. There are a lot of camera perks with those dual displays: Your subject can see themselves in the outer display; you can stand up the Duo like a tripod; and you can project FaceTime calls on both displays, so everyone can see who you're talking to.

iPhone Duo: Colors

Credit: Apple

Apple didn't go all out with the colors for the Duo. Buyers will only have two options to choose from here: Star White or Night Sky (dark blue). That's in contrast to the iPhone 18 Pro, which comes in four interesting colors. That said, I'm guessing Apple doesn't expect Duo sales to be affected by color options: Buyers are either going to pay up for the Duo, or they're not, and fun colors probably wouldn't play into that conversation.

iPhone Duo: Price

Credit: Apple

Apple's first foldable iPhone doesn't come cheap, of course. The iPhone Duo officially starts at $1,999, which makes this the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever made. And yet, that doesn't sound so bad: Initial reports suggested that the Duo would be more than $2,000, which seemed quite believable considering how RAMaggedon is driving the costs up for all types of tech.

The iPhone Duo can be more expensive, however. $1,999 is the starting price for the 256GB model, though it goes up to 2TB.

iPhone Duo: Release date

While Apple announced the iPhone Duo today, it won't be available right away. Instead, the company says preorders begin Oct. 16, while sales begin Oct. 23. While iPhone preorders are usually a frantic affair, I imagine the Duo's demand will be historic. If you're interested in picking one up as soon as possible, you'll likely want to make sure you preorder it as soon as Apple lets you.