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In September, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced a new lineup of products, as it always does. The company debuted the iPhone 18, but the main event was arguably the unveiling of the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first attempt at a Foldable smartphone. This was hardly a surprise. Rumors that Apple would finally launch a foldable version of its famous device had been circulating for months.
Apple’s decision to launch the iPhone Duo was likely driven by its perception of tangible consumer interest. But will demand for the iPhone Duo be strong enough to make this device a meaningful growth driver?
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Early signs are positive
So far, the evidence suggests that Apple was correct: Demand for the iPhone Duo has been off the charts. Pre-orders apparently sold out quickly. According to some estimates, iPhone Duo shipments through the end of 2026 could total between six million and 10 million. Here’s why that’s meaningful.
This is a premium device with a starting price of about $2,000 — versions with more memory and other advanced features are even more expensive. At the lowest price, and with six million devices sold and perhaps as many as 10 million, that’s between $12 billion and $20 billion.
The lower end of that range represents 22% of total iPhone revenue in the company’s latest quarterly update. Of course, iPhone Duo sales will somewhat cannibalize other models’ sales. But note that the iPhone 18 Pro — the cheapest one available right now — has a starting price of roughly $1,200, or $800 less than the cheapest iPhone Duo model.
Even assuming every base iPhone Duo sale is a foregone iPhone 18 Pro sale, that could add $4.8 billion to Apple’s revenue through the end of the year.
However, there is a decent chance that Apple will successfully attract at least some users switching from other smartphone brands. That highlights the company’s long-term strategy. Apple doesn’t necessarily seek to be first to market. One of the tech leader’s biggest strengths is releasing better versions of existing devices. That’s what it did with the iPhone, changing the smartphone market forever. It did the same with several other products, including its Apple Watch and AirPods. The iPhone Duo is the company’s latest attempt.
