Apple’s first foldable iPhone is reportedly not called iPhone Ultra after all. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device will launch as iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999, with a release window that could slip past the iPhone 18 Pro.
The report landed just hours before Apple’s hardware event, which kicks off today at 10am PT.
iPhone Duo, Not iPhone Ultra
Months of rumors pointed to iPhone Ultra as the name for Apple’s book-style foldable, the company’s first iPhone with both an inner and outer display. Gurman says that’s not the case. Apple is reportedly going with iPhone Duo instead, a name that leans into the dual-screen design rather than a performance tier.
It’s a shift from how Apple usually names its top-tier hardware, and it suggests the company wants the foldable to stand on its own rather than slot into the existing iPhone lineup naming convention.
Price: $1,999
Gurman reports the iPhone Duo will start at $1,999, roughly the cost of two iPhones. That’s high, but it’s reportedly lower than what some analysts had projected for Apple’s first foldable.
Part of that pricing is apparently coming out of Apple’s own pocket. Gurman says Apple is absorbing some of the recent spike in memory component costs to keep the Duo competitive rather than passing the full increase on to buyers.
Colors: White and Dark Blue
The report also points to a tighter color lineup than usual. iPhone Duo is expected to launch in just two finishes: white and dark blue. That’s a narrower spread than the iPhone 18 Pro line, though it’s not unusual for Apple to keep a first-generation product simple before expanding options in later years.
Release Date: Later Than iPhone 18 Pro
Gurman didn’t name an exact release date, only saying the iPhone Duo will “go on sale as early as October.” That puts it several weeks behind the iPhone 18 Pro, which is still expected to ship this month.
A staggered launch would line up with how Apple has handled other new product categories in the past, giving supply chains more room to ramp up before a wider release.
Apple Pencil Support Is Back On the Table
One detail that’s changed direction: Apple Pencil support. It was reportedly considered for iPhone Duo earlier in development, then dropped from expectations. Gurman’s latest report says it’s back, with Apple Pencil support now anticipated for the device.
If that holds, it would make iPhone Duo the first iPhone to officially support Apple Pencil, closing part of the gap between iPhone and iPad in Apple’s lineup. This would also complement iPad-like app layouts that the foldable form factor is expected to enable.
Confirmation Is Hours Away
Everything above comes from Gurman’s report ahead of today’s event, not from Apple. We’ll know the real name, price, and specs once Apple takes the stage at 10am PT. Given how close this is to the announcement, expect these details to hold up, but treat them as unconfirmed until Apple says otherwise.
