Apple’s $1,999 iPhone Duo faces two early demand risks, with analysts questioning its large form factor and whether buyers will wait for a smaller second-generation model.
Key Points:
- The Duo combines a 5.4-inch outer display with a 7.6-inch unfolded screen and starts at $1,999.
- Jefferies says one-handed use may be difficult, especially for people with smaller hands.
- Supply-chain checks suggest Apple could introduce a more conventionally sized second-generation foldable in 2027.
Edison Lee Concerns
Apple introduced the Duo a day earlier as its first foldable iPhone, with CEO John Ternus presenting the device at the company’s annual product event. The phone opens like a book. Its 5.4-inch outer display expands to 7.6 inches when opened.
The Duo starts at $1,999, while the highest-capacity version costs about $3,199.
Jefferies analyst Edison Lee said the larger design may be difficult to operate with one hand, particularly for people with smaller hands. He also said Jefferies supply-chain checks indicate Apple could launch a second-generation foldable in 2027 with a more conventional size, potentially at a higher price.
“While this seems to be fashionable, we are not sure whether this size is preferred by consumers,” Lee wrote, adding that a successor could cause some buyers to wait.
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John Stankey View
AT&T CEO John Stankey separately questioned whether Apple’s entry would broaden the appeal of foldable phones. He told Yahoo Finance that foldables have already been available in the Android market for several years and said demand has tended to remain concentrated among a narrower group of users.
“The best characterization I can give is, looking at the foldable phones that have been out in the market, this is not new,” Stankey said.
Apple is entering the foldable segment after Android manufacturers have spent years testing different screen sizes and form factors. That history gives the Duo an established market to compete in, but it also means buyers can compare Apple’s first attempt with more mature alternatives.
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