BlockBeats news, on September 10, Apple officially launched its first foldable iPhone Duo, pushing the iPhone price ceiling to $1,999 and sparking market debate over whether high-priced foldables will become Apple’s new growth engine or ultimately remain a niche luxury product.
Gene Munster, Managing Partner at Deepwater Asset Management, significantly raised his expectations for Duo, forecasting that its contribution to iPhone revenue in fiscal year 2027 will double from 5% to 10%, calling Duo Apple’s most important new product since the AirPods in 2016. He believes that if about one-third of Pro Max users switch to Duo, it could drive a 5% increase in iPhone revenue and approximately a 2.5% increase in Apple’s total revenue.
However, Wall Street remains notably cautious. Morningstar believes Duo could boost the average selling price of the iPhone but expects iPhone sales to remain largely flat in fiscal year 2027; meanwhile, rising storage costs may pressure Apple’s gross margins. Jefferies maintains a "Underperform" rating, suggesting that Duo’s entry-level 256GB version may indicate Apple is prioritizing sales volume over per-unit profitability.
A greater challenge comes from market size. Currently, foldable phones account for only about 2% of global smartphone sales, and FDM CCS Insight expects this to rise to only about 4% over the next decade. Forrester therefore warns that Duo could become a high-priced niche product similar to the Vision Pro, or it could establish its own standalone market like the Apple Watch—but whether it can achieve meaningful scale remains to be seen.
The Duo is priced at $1,999, with the 2TB version reaching up to $3,199, and will be available for pre-order on October 16 and launch on October 23. Meanwhile, Apple has raised the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro to $1,199. For new CEO John Ternus, whether the Duo can become the next growth engine for iPhone will be his first major test in office.