Apple's First Foldable iPhone Unveiled Under New CEO John Ternus

When Apple’s long‑time leader Tim Cook stepped aside, the spotlight shifted to the man who now steers the tech giant’s product pipeline: John Ternus. The new CEO didn’t waste a minute. On a brisk September morning in Cupertino, he walked onto the stage with a grin and a sleek, metal‑clad box that looked more like a travel passport than a phone.

Inside that box was the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first attempt at a foldable handset. It’s a little device – roughly the size of a standard passport when closed – that snaps open to reveal a 6.7‑inch OLED display that wraps around the hinge. The design feels almost nostalgic, like flipping open an old diary, yet the tech inside is decidedly cutting‑edge: a custom‑made ultra‑thin glass, a reinforced hinge that Apple says can survive at least 200,000 folds, and a processor built on a 3‑nanometer process.

“We’ve been listening,” Ternus told the audience, “and we think it’s time to give people a phone that fits in a pocket, but doesn’t force them to compromise on screen real‑estate.” The Duo will run iOS 18, which has been tweaked to handle the foldable form factor – apps can now adapt on the fly, and the Home screen rearranges itself when the device is closed.

Analysts are already whispering about the market impact. Some see the Duo as Apple finally catching up with Samsung’s Galaxy Z‑series, while others argue that Apple’s reputation for polish could give the Duo an edge in durability and software support. Early estimates put the launch price at $1,199, positioning it as a premium offering for early adopters.

Beyond the specs, the launch marks a symbolic moment for Apple’s leadership. John Ternus, who previously oversaw hardware engineering, is signaling a shift toward more experimental form factors. “We’re not just iterating,” he said, “we’re redefining what a phone can be.”

The iPhone Duo will ship in the United States and a handful of other markets this fall, with broader availability slated for early next year. If the hype translates into sales, Apple could be opening a whole new chapter – one where folding phones become as ubiquitous as the iPhone itself.