Apple officially entered the foldable smartphone segment on Friday with the debut of the iPhone Duo in India, drawing long queues and large crowds of buyers to the tech giant's Saket store inside Select CITYWALK Mall in New Delhi.
The new device marks Apple's first venture into foldable form factors. It features a 7.6-inch flexible inner display that folds into a compact form with a 5.4-inch outer cover screen. Built within a titanium frame, the smartphone is powered by the new A20 Pro chip and includes a 48MP Dual Fusion camera system.
In the Indian market, the iPhone Duo is available in four storage configurations. The base 256GB model is priced at ₹2,99,900, while the 512GB variant costs ₹3,24,900. Higher-end variants include the 1TB version priced at ₹3,74,900 and the 2TB model coming in at ₹4,49,900.
Early buyers at the Delhi retail location reported strong initial impressions, highlighting the device's multitasking capabilities that allow users to run two different tasks simultaneously on the same screen. Customers also noted the necessity of purchasing an additional protection plan to cover potential screen damage, given the high replacement and repair costs associated with foldable display technology.
While early adopters expressed optimism regarding the device's potential popularity among younger demographics, they acknowledged that the steep pricing structure remains a significant factor for consumers considering the purchase.
"Apple's entry into the foldable smartphone segment highlights the continuous evolution of high-end consumer hardware. Pricing a flagship device from ₹2,99,900 to ₹4,49,900 targets an ultra-premium consumer segment in India. While high price points introduce market limitations, strong initial retail queues demonstrate robust brand loyalty and sustained demand for cutting-edge mobile innovation in the region." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
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