Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone Duo Starting at ₹3 Lakh
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Startup Spotlight India
- September 10, 2026
Smartphone maker Apple yesterday unveiled its first foldable smartphone, called iPhone Duo, at its flagship “Surprise and Shine” event in Cupertino. The launch marks the company’s official entry into a segment that rivals Samsung and Google have pursued for years.
Alongside the foldable smartphone, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) launched its latest iPhone 18 range, which will be available in two models, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The iPhone Duo will be available in four memory variants and will hit the shelves in India starting October 23. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 models will go on sale a month earlier, on September 18.
The foldable iPhone will be available in India at a starting price of ₹3 Lakh for the 256 GB model and will go up to nearly ₹4.5 Lakh for the 2 TB model.
The iPhone 18 Pro will start at ₹1.6 Lakh for the base 256 GB variant, while the higher 2 TB variant will cost ₹3.1 Lakh. The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at ₹1.8 Lakh for the 256 GB variant and goes up to ₹3.3 Lakh for the 2 TB version.
iPhone Duo Specifications
On the specifications front, Apple’s flagship foldable smartphone sports 12 GB RAM and a 7.6-inch foldable display on the inside. When closed, it features a 5.4-inch outer display.
The device runs on Apple’s in-house A20 Pro chipset, which also powers the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The foldable smartphone also comes with a dual rear camera unit featuring a 48-megapixel main camera.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display and a triple rear camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary camera. It also comes with a single 18-megapixel front camera for selfies.
The iPhone 18 Pro models feature a 6.3-inch display and similar camera specifications as the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Apple Watch and AirPods Prices in India
Apple also launched its latest range of Apple Watch and AirPods products. The pricing is as follows:
- Apple Watch Series 12 starts at ₹56,900 for Indian customers.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4 will be priced starting ₹1.1 Lakh.
- AirPods 5 will be available for ₹25,900, while the wireless charging case will cost an additional ₹17,900.
John Ternus Leads First Major Apple Presentation as CEO
The event marked the first major presentation by new Apple CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on September 1.
Alongside the new launches, Apple also increased the prices of many of its older smartphones, including iPhone 16, iPhone 17 and iPhone Air.
The iPhone 16 has become dearer by ₹16,000, while the price of iPhone 17 has been increased by ₹17,000. iPhone Air saw the most pronounced increase, with its initial retail price rising by ₹30,000 to ₹1.5 Lakh.
Apple’s India Sales and Manufacturing
The launches come a month after then CEO Cook said that Apple clocked record revenue in the June 2026 quarter in India. At the time, Apple CFO Kevan Parekh also said India delivered strong double-digit revenue growth during the quarter, with Mac emerging as one of the standout performers.
Besides being a key market for sales, India continues to be a major manufacturing hub for Apple. Over the years, the company has significantly expanded local iPhone production, with iPhone exports from India crossing the ₹2 Lakh Cr mark in FY26.
FAQs
1. What is Apple’s first foldable smartphone called?
Apple’s first foldable smartphone is called iPhone Duo.
2. When will iPhone Duo go on sale in India?
iPhone Duo will hit the shelves in India starting October 23.
3. What is the starting price of iPhone Duo in India?
The iPhone Duo starts at ₹3 Lakh for the 256 GB model.
4. When will the iPhone 18 models go on sale in India?
The iPhone 18 models will be available for sale on September 18.
5. Who is Apple’s new CEO?
John Ternus is Apple’s new CEO and took over from Tim Cook on September 1.
