After years of watching rivals fold and unfold their way through an emerging category, Apple has entered the foldable phone market with the iPhone Duo — a device whose crease-free display and obsessive engineering speak to a company that chose arrival over earliness. Launched at ₹2,99,900 in India, it is the most expensive iPhone ever made, positioning itself not merely as a phone but as a statement about what patience in design can yield. The deeper question it poses is one that technology has always asked of its era: when craft and cost diverge so sharply from the everyday, who is the innova
Hindustan Times
· Sep 10, 2026
· technology
· 4 min read
High
Sourcing: Characterized
Apple's iPhone Duo arrives as premium foldable with creaseless display
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Technology
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Bias & Framing
⚖
Article uses promotional language and Apple's framing to present iPhone Duo as superior, with limited critical analysis of premium pricing or competitive disadvantages of late market entry.
Bias Direction
center-right
Confidence
HIGH
Product launch enthusiasm framing with emphasis on Apple's technological superiority and design achievements; positions late market entry as strategic advantage rather than competitive disadvantage
finally here
Much awaited, long overdue
became clear why Apple waited this long
incredibly thin
truly rare foldable
decidedly gorgeous
quite an achievement
smooth, satisfying feel
patient approach
Consumer cost-benefit analysis comparing ₹2,99,900 price to competitors
Critical evaluation of whether crease-free display justifies 2-3x premium over existing foldables
Independent durability testing or long-term reliability data
Perspective from competing manufacturers on their foldable technology
Consumer complaints or issues with earlier foldable phones that Apple claims to have solved
Analysis of whether late entry actually provides meaningful advantages or is marketing narrative
Geopolitical Impact
🌎
Apple's iPhone Duo entry into foldable market has minimal geopolitical impact; primarily a consumer technology competition issue affecting supply chains and tech sector positioning.
Escalation Risk
low
Confidence
MED
India
United States
China
South Korea
Taiwan
Reinforces existing tech sector hierarchy: Apple's late entry leverages superior R&D and manufacturing capabilities, potentially consolidating premium market share. Supply chain challenges noted suggest ongoing US-China tech decoupling and Taiwan semiconductor dependency. Samsung and Chinese competitors (Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo) face increased competition in high-margin foldable segment.
Similar to Apple's iPhone entry in 2007—late market entrant using superior engineering to dominate premium segment, reshaping competitive landscape without direct geopolitical confrontation.
Economic Lens
📈
Apple's premium foldable iPhone Duo at ₹2,99,900 enters India's foldable market with crease-free display technology, positioning itself as high-end alternative to competitors despite supply chain cost pressures.
Market Signal
mixed
Confidence
MED
Consumer Electronics & Smartphones
Premium Mobile Device Manufacturing
Display Technology & Materials Science
Retail & E-commerce
Telecommunications
High-income consumers gain access to premium foldable technology with superior durability, but at significantly elevated price point (₹2,99,900) limiting mass-market adoption. May trigger price competition and innovation in mid-premium segment as competitors respond.
Potential tariff and import duty reviews on advanced display technologies and titanium components; regulatory scrutiny on supply chain resilience for critical electronics; possible incentives for domestic foldable phone manufacturing to reduce import dependency.