Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with iPhone Duo, its first folding iPhone, and Malaysia is among the first-wave markets. The new device starts at RM9,499 and will be available in star white and night sky, with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage options.
Malaysian pre-orders open at 8 p.m. MYT on Friday, October 16, with availability beginning Friday, October 23. Apple is also offering 0% interest payments for up to 24 months, bringing the starting configuration to RM395.79 per month.
Two displays turn the iPhone into a small tablet
iPhone Duo uses a foldable design with a 5.36-inch outer display and a 7.58-inch inner display. Opening the phone gives users a much larger workspace, and iOS 27.1 has been adapted specifically for the form factor. Split View allows two apps to run side by side on an iPhone for the first time, while users can save app pairs and even open two windows of the same app.
Apple has engineered the hinge from more than 100 components, with a grade 5 titanium enclosure and a 3D-printed hinge cover. Ceramic Shield 2 protects the outer display, while the folding inner panel uses multiple protective layers and a titanium plate underneath. The phone carries an IP68 rating.
A20 Pro performance and two batteries
iPhone Duo uses the same 2nm A20 Pro chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro models, paired with a custom vapour chamber. Apple says sustained performance is up to 35% better than iPhone 17 Pro, while the 7-core GPU is up to 40% faster and the Dual 16-core Neural Engine provides twice the compute power for on-device AI workloads.
There is one high-energy battery on each side of the device. Apple rates battery life at up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display, 44 hours on the outer display, or up to 24 hours of typical mixed usage. Wired charging can reach 50% in around 20 minutes, while MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging can reach 50% in around 30 minutes.
48MP cameras with foldable-specific tricks
The camera system includes a 48MP Fusion Main camera with an optical-quality 2x option and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera shared with the iPhone 18 Pro series. The folding design also enables several unusual camera features. Users can take selfies using the rear cameras while framing themselves on the outer display, while Duo Preview gives subjects their own live preview.
Smart Take uses on-device AI to recognise when subjects are posing and automatically capture photos, while Kid Cue displays Peanuts animations on the outer screen to encourage children to look towards the camera. The phone can also be propped up without a tripod for video and FaceTime calls.
iPhone Duo Malaysia price and availability
iPhone Duo starts at RM9,499 in Malaysia and comes in star white or night sky with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities. Pre-orders begin at 8 p.m. MYT on October 16 and availability starts October 23.
The iPhone Duo Case costs RM319, while the iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand is RM529. One important detail for Malaysian buyers is that iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide, although Apple lists CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Yes among supported carriers.
At RM9,499, iPhone Duo is unquestionably a premium proposition, but it also represents one of Apple’s biggest changes to the iPhone since the original model — bringing a tablet-sized folding display, genuine iPhone multitasking and several camera experiences that simply would not work on a conventional slab phone.
