Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale this month, but the launch has been overshadowed by widespread scalping on Japanese resale platforms such as Mercari, Yahoo! Flea Market and Rakuma, where units are being listed at steep premiums. Accessory maker CASETiFY simultaneously unveiled a line of precision-engineered cases and accessories tailored for the new device.
Industry insider Mark Gurman reports that Apple is already working on a second-generation model, internally referred to as iPhone Duo 2, to address the compromises forced by the inaugural design. The current model lacks Face ID, relying instead on a Touch ID sensor integrated into the side button, and it omits a dedicated telephoto lens and the Action Button found on recent flagship iPhones. Prototypes of the successor reportedly incorporate Face ID beneath the external display, a feature that could arrive within the next two to three years, possibly with the first or second update to the foldable line.
Further down the road, a third generation slated for around 2028 may adopt a larger internal screen, expanding from the current 7.6 inches to roughly 8 inches without significantly increasing the device's outer dimensions. The company is also exploring greater reliance on computational photography and artificial intelligence to compensate for the physical constraints of a slim foldable chassis.
Supply constraints have compounded the launch challenges. Preorders have been pushed back by at least three months due to difficulties in securing components, leaving many early buyers unable to obtain the device promptly.
Despite the competitive threat, Samsung has announced a 45 percent year-over-year increase in European sales of its Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra during the first nine weeks of availability. The Korean giant attributes the growth to rising consumer interest in foldable form factors, a trend also reflected in a surge of Google searches for its latest flip and fold models.
Analysts suggest that the iPhone Duo could quickly become the reference point for the foldable smartphone segment, even as Apple iterates rapidly to close the feature gap with its conventional flagship lineup.
