Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Series
At 1:00 AM Beijing time on September 10, Apple officially launched its first foldable iPhone—iPhone Duo—alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series. This marks the first product debut under new CEO John Ternus. On September 17, Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Worldwide iPhone Marketing Vice President, gave an exclusive interview to IT之家 in Shanghai, elaborating on the design philosophy behind these devices.
Key specifications and timeline:
- Release date: September 10, 2024, 1:00 AM (Beijing time)
- New models: iPhone Duo (first foldable), iPhone 18 Pro series
- CEO debut: John Ternus assumed leadership for this launch
- Design emphasis: Prioritizing final user experience over technical specs
- Availability: Launch date and pricing remain undisclosed
Foldable Design: Large Screen Meets Pocket-Sized Portability
iPhone Duo’s core proposition lies in its foldable form factor: unfolded, it houses Apple’s largest display ever on an iPhone; folded, it becomes compact enough for single-hand portability. Drance stressed that the goal was to redefine interaction—rather than replicate traditional smartphone ergonomics.
A surprising detail: Despite its minimalist exterior, the internal structure is exceptionally complex. The hinge uses Grade 5 titanium, supported by hundreds of tiny components with reinforcement and carbon fiber to ensure durability and flexibility. Additional highlights include:
- Custom nano-texture coating: Reduces glare, minimizes visible creases, and improves scratch anddent resistance
- Smooth hinge experience: Enables consistent, elegant positioning at various angles
- System-level optimization: Fresh iOS redesigned to preserve iPhone-like intuitiveness even on the wide screen
Drance stated clearly: “We really are pursuing the final user experience, not just technology.”
A20 Pro Chip: Performance Leap Exceeds Typical Annual Updates
The iPhone 18 Pro series is powered by the new A20 Pro chip, fabricated on 2-nanometer process, delivering substantial performance gains that Drance emphasized go beyond “simple, routine annual upgrades”:
- CPU performance improved by 20%
- GPU performance improved up to 40%
- NPU core count doubled to 32 cores
- Neural engine units doubled
Apple paired the A20 Pro with a VC thermal plate for tighter thermal contact, improving sustained performance under heavy workloads and extending battery life. These enhancements translate directly to smoother daily use, gaming, and multimedia tasks.
Camera System: Variable Aperture Lowers Professional Barriers
Though iPhone 18 Pro’s external changes appear subtle, its camera introducesvariable aperture technology. Drance clarified this feature targets everyday users—not professionals—and improves photo and video quality in low light by automatically adjusting light intake. She added: “Even if you don’t understand how to use aperture or aren’t a Pro-level control user, variable aperture helps your everyday photos and videos look better.”
Who Should Buy—and Who Should Wait
- Ideal for screen-first users: Those who prioritize media consumption, multitasking, or immersive reading benefit from the unfolded display’s real estate
- Ideal for durability-conscious users: TheGrade 5 titanium hinge and nano-texture surface may reduce long-term wear and repair concerns
- Wait for now if: Budget is tight; iPhone 18 Pro series offers major performance gains without foldable premiums, making it a more pragmatic upgrade
In Closing
Apple is leveraging “final user experience” to differentiate its foldable entry, sidestepping spec wars in favor of hardware-software orchestration. While competitors chase fold counts and weight metrics, Apple stakes its claim on reshaping interaction through form—not merely marking foldables’ arrival, but transitioning the category from “hardware foldable” to “experience foldable.”