Add preferred source
Amid controversy over display damage near the hinge on Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, speculation has emerged that development of its successor, the iPhone Duo 2, is well advanced. Leaker Majin Buu claims the iPhone Duo 2 will pack three 48-megapixel cameras, adopt Face ID, and add deep black and light purple to the color lineup. He says production molds have been prepared and roughly 1 million prototype units are in the initial production stage. Despite strong performance and hardware polish, the first-generation device drew criticism over its weight, price, and lack of optimization for third-party apps.
Key Elements
Amid controversy over durability issues surrounding the iPhone Duo—Apple’s first foldable smartphone—shortly after its launch, speculation has emerged that development of its successor, the iPhone Duo 2, is making significant progress. With even a component photo hinting at the next device’s camera configuration leaking out, market attention is shifting to the second-generation model.
IT tipster (leaker) Majin Buu on the 8th posted an image on X (formerly Twitter) believed to be a camera lens protective film for the iPhone Duo 2. The published photo shows three circular holes for camera lenses arranged in a row. Compared with the current iPhone Duo, which packs a 48-megapixel main camera and two ultrawide cameras, the lens count rises by one.
However, Majin Buu predicted that the next model will carry three 48-megapixel cameras but no dedicated telephoto camera. His analysis is that instead of a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, the device will retain a crop-zoom approach that leverages pixel count. The color lineup will also change. In addition to the existing “Night Sky,” deep black and light purple are expected to be added to the lineup.
Because the leaked photo shows an accessory component rather than a finished product, it is hard to treat it as grounds for confirming final specifications. Still, Majin Buu claimed that production molds for the iPhone Duo 2 have already been prepared and that the product’s size and form are close to the final design. Display development is also said to be in its final stages, and the prototypes are said to be longer vertically than the first generation and to feature Face ID, the facial recognition function. Prototype volume in the initial production stage is reported to be around 1 million units.
This leak coincides with the emergence of durability problems with the first-generation iPhone Duo. Regarding the iPhone Duo, launched on the 23rd of last month, some users have claimed that the internal display near the hinge was damaged or that lines appeared on the screen while unfolding the device. This is a phenomenon not reported for Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Apple has acknowledged that internal display problems occurred in some units and said it will replace the affected products. However, it said the number of confirmed problem units is small and did not disclose the exact cause or defect rate. With quality issues emerging in its first foldable product, the market’s expectations—and the pressure—regarding the polish of the second-generation model are growing at the same time.
Real-world assessments of the first-generation product are mixed. It earns high marks for hardware polish, but critics say there is considerable room for improvement on price and software optimization. Its structure—passport-sized when folded and opening to a 7.6-inch screen—is regarded as a new foldable form factor. Equipped with Apple’s A20 Pro processor and 12GB of memory, its performance is on par with the iPhone 18 Pro series.
On the other hand, it weighs 254g, heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the gap with the competing foldable Galaxy Z Fold 8 (about 200g) is pronounced. The adoption of a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button instead of Face ID, and the removal of the physical switch for silent mode, are also unfamiliar changes for existing iPhone users. Pricing starts at 9,000 shekels (about $2,824) in Israel for the 256GB model. That is well above the launch price of the competing Galaxy Z Fold 8 (about 6,000 shekels, $1,883).
The lack of readiness in the software ecosystem has also come under scrutiny. Apple’s own apps—Mail, Calendar, and iMessage—adapt well to split-screen use, but many major third-party apps, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Chrome, and Google Photos, have been criticized for failing to make proper use of the 7.6-inch screen and leaving black margins. LINE and Mercari, which have many users in the Japanese market, are likewise not optimized and are displayed in portrait orientation or require tapping a zoom button.
The camera configuration clearly shows the first generation’s limitations. The rear houses only a 48-megapixel main camera and two ultrawide cameras, with no dedicated telephoto lens. In a premium smartphone market where high-magnification optical zoom has become standard, capping out at 2x digital zoom is a disappointing point given the price range. Even if the second generation gains three 48-megapixel lenses, this assessment could persist if a telephoto lens is excluded.
| Item | iPhone Duo (1st gen) | iPhone Duo 2 (leaked forecast) |
|---|---|---|
| Rear camera | 48MP main + 2 ultrawide | Three 48MP (telephoto not expected) |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint (power button) | Face ID |
| Colors | Night Sky | Deep black, light purple added |
| Display | 7.6-inch (unfolded) | Development in final stage |
| Prototype volume | – | About 1 million units |
Note: Figures for the iPhone Duo 2 are the leaker’s claims and have not been officially confirmed by Apple.
Apple is also reported to be preparing a model commemorating the 20th anniversary of the iPhone next year. Majin Buu claimed that the exterior and screen ratio of that model have not yet been finalized, but that about 5 million prototype units are in the testing stage. With the 20th-anniversary model and the foldable lineup moving forward simultaneously, Apple’s smartphone roadmap is becoming unusually complex.
The competitive landscape in the foldable market is another variable. Samsung Electronics has seized the initiative with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, while Huawei is broadening its ultra-premium lineup by selling its tri-fold “Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design” in China starting at 19,999 yuan (about $3,000). As Apple enters as a latecomer, it faces the task of simultaneously raising price competitiveness and software polish in its second-generation model.
The durability controversy over the first-generation iPhone Duo could weigh on the initial credibility of Apple’s foldable business. If cases of hinge and internal display damage spread, replacement costs and damage to brand image will be unavoidable. On the other hand, the view that the second-generation model is developing quickly reads as an intent by Apple to swiftly incorporate feedback from the first generation and strengthen its lineup. It is a point that confirms its strategy of cultivating foldables as its next-generation flagship form factor.
For investors, the key points to watch are the launch timing and selling price of the second-generation model, as well as the composition of its component supply chain. If the camera lens count rises from two to three, the scope of benefits for related module suppliers could also change. However, since this information is based on a leaker’s claims, actual specifications and schedules should be confirmed through Apple’s official announcements.
