Apple has opened pre-orders in India for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, a device that folds open from a 5.4-inch outer face into a 7.6-inch inner screen. Priced from just under Rs 3 lakh and set to reach shelves on October 23, it marks the company's entry into a segment that has been growing quickly across the world. Whether the device finds buyers at these prices will show how far a premium brand known for its single-slab phones is willing to bend toward a new shape of carrying a screen.
Apple's First Foldable, the iPhone Duo, Opens Pre-Orders in India From Rs 2,99,900
A foldable from Apple, starting at Rs 2,99,900
Mark
So what actually happened here? Apple opened pre-orders in India for its first foldable.
Mimi
Yes, on October 16, with sales starting October 23. It's the iPhone Duo, which was shown in September at the "Surprise and Shine" event.
Mark
And the price is the headline?
Mimi
It's hard to miss. It starts at Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB and climbs to Rs 4,49,900 for the 2TB model.
Luke
Worth saying that's the list price. The offers change what some buyers pay, but the cashback is capped at Rs 7,000 and only on three named bank cards.
Mark
What about the trade-in figure of Rs 81,500?
Mimi
That's the ceiling, and it depends on the model and condition of the old device.
Luke
Right, so most people will not see that number. The source doesn't say what a typical trade-in would fetch.
Mark
What's distinctive about the hardware?
Mimi
Two screens of the same aspect ratio, 5.4 inches outside and 7.6 inside, a hinge with over 100 components, and Touch ID in the side button.
Luke
Those are Apple's claims, like "thinnest iPhone ever when open." The piece has no independent testing, no battery life, no durability results.
Mark
And whether it sells?
Luke
Unknown. The source calls the segment fast-growing but gives no sales figures. We'll learn more after October 23.
O Pulso
- Apple has entered the foldable market with a phone priced between Rs 2,99,900 and Rs 4,49,900, a steep bet in a segment it has never tested.
- Pre-orders opened on October 16, and buyers are already weighing the price against launch cashback, no-cost EMI and trade-in credit of up to Rs 81,500.
- Apple is routing sales through its online store, app, own retail outlets and select partners, trying to reach buyers across India at once.
- The hinge, built from more than 100 parts, and the nano-texture inner display are Apple's answer to the durability and glare problems that have dogged foldables.
- Sales begin October 23, and early uptake at these prices will reveal whether Apple can win over Indian buyers in a fast-growing category.
Apple has opened pre-orders in India for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, a device that folds open from a 5.4-inch outer face into a 7.6-inch inner screen. Priced from just under Rs 3 lakh and set to reach shelves on October 23, it marks the company's entry into a segment that has been growing quickly across the world. Whether the device finds buyers at these prices will show how far a premium brand known for its single-slab phones is willing to bend toward a new shape of carrying a screen.
Pre-orders for Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, opened in India on October 16, with sales set to begin a week later on October 23. The launch carries Apple into the foldable segment, a category the source describes as fast-growing, at prices that start just under Rs 3 lakh.
The Duo was unveiled in September at Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event. Closed, it shows a 5.4-inch outer display; opened, it becomes a 7.6-inch inner screen. Its inner panel carries a nano-texture finish meant to cut glare. Four storage tiers run from Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB up to Rs 4,49,900 for 2TB, available in Star White and Night Sky.
Apple is steering buyers to its Online Store, the Apple Store app, its own retail stores and authorised partners. To soften the price, launch offers include instant cashback of up to Rs 7,000 on select bank cards, no-cost EMI for up to 12 months, and trade-in credit reaching Rs 81,500, along with three months of Apple's streaming services.
Inside, the phone runs on the new A20 Pro chip, with a vapour chamber for cooling and a dual-battery design. A titanium frame, an IP68 rating and Touch ID in the side button round out the hardware. Apple calls it its thinnest iPhone ever when unfolded.
The real test comes after October 23, when early uptake at these price points will show how Apple's foldable fares in India's market.
Pre-orders for Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, opened in India on October 16, with sales set to begin a week later on October 23. The launch puts the company into the foldable segment, which the source describes as fast-growing, and does so at prices that start just under Rs 3 lakh.
The Duo was unveiled in September at Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event. Closed, it presents a 5.4-inch outer display. Opened, it becomes a 7.6-inch inner screen. Both screens share the same aspect ratio, and the outer display offers 90 percent of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro. The inner panel has a nano-texture finish meant to cut glare.
Pricing runs across four storage tiers. The 256GB model costs Rs 2,99,900, the 512GB model Rs 3,24,900, and the 1TB model Rs 3,74,900. The top 2TB version is priced at Rs 4,49,900. Buyers can choose between two colours, Star White and Night Sky.
For purchases, Apple is pointing customers to its Online Store, the Apple Store app, its own retail stores and select authorised retail partners across the country. The source notes that the phone is also expected at partner retailers, though availability may vary by channel.
Launch offers are meant to soften the price. Eligible American Express, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank cards get instant cashback of up to Rs 7,000. No-cost EMI is available for up to 12 months on eligible purchases. Apple Trade In credit can reach Rs 81,500, depending on the model and condition of the device handed over. Eligible customers also receive three months of Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade.
On the hardware side, the Duo runs on the new A20 Pro chip and carries a dual rear camera system. Apple cools it with a vapour chamber and uses a dual-battery design. The frame is titanium, the phone carries an IP68 rating, and Touch ID is built into the side button. Apple calls it the thinnest iPhone ever when unfolded.
Holding the two halves together is a custom hinge made of more than 100 components, which keeps the display flat when the phone is open.
Sales begin October 23, and early uptake at these price points will be the first sign of how Apple's foldable fares in India's market.
Citações Notáveis
Apple describes the Duo as the thinnest iPhone ever when it is open.— Apple, as reported by Times of India
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Leia o original em Times of India ↗
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