The iPhone Duo Is Here and My Wallet Folded Before the Phone Did

After years of rumors, Apple finally unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, at a special event on September 9. The device unfolds from a 5.4-inch outer display into a 7.6-inch inner screen, making it part smartphone and part compact tablet. It features a redesigned hinge that Apple believes would make the display crease less noticeable. 

apple.com/ph

I got interested in it because of the size of its unfolded screen. At 7.6 inches, it is only slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini, but larger than a typical Kindle, which I often use for reading. In other words, the iPhone Duo is not only a folding phone but also a small tablet I could fit in my pocket. 

It is another thingamajig from Apple that I would want to lay my hands on.  But then, I learned about the price. I started doing calculations in my head.

At the Apple Store Philippines, the iPhone Duo starts at P159,990 for the 256 GB model and goes up to P175,990 for the 512GB variant. Don’t ask me about the 1 and 2 TB iterations because I am not the target market for those.  I can only imagine the retail price with local taxes and retailer markups included.

I started calculating and thinking about all the other things I could buy with that amount of money. Several pairs of running shoes, weeks or even months of groceries, a new MacBook, or even a domestic vacation (especially after the government announced a three-day holiday in November). I could even buy an iPhone and an iPad separately, or a Kindle Colorsoft, if I wanted to. Someone told me that I could buy a new motorcycle with that money.  It’s funny that  I'm not comparing the iPhone Duo with other smartphones, but instead comparing it with other items I could buy for its price.  Realizing what I can get at this price point, I consider it a luxury item.

I know new technology is expensive: it has to go through research and testing, may require the creation of new parts, and more before it even goes into production. Add to that the ongoing AI-driven crisis, which is making parts such as memory so expensive.  So maybe this first version of a foldable iPhone was never meant to be a mass-market device, but more aimed at early adopters and tech enthusiasts who want the latest and most advanced gadget available and have the resources to boot.

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I am also interested in how it compares with existing foldable phones. Brands like Samsung have spent years refining their similar products, with premium foldables in the Philippines typically selling for around P90,000 to P120,000 depending on the model and configuration. By comparison, the iPhone Duo appears to be positioning itself at the top of the foldable market, both in terms of branding and price. 

You are probably asking if I would love to try one.  Of course. I would be lying if I said no.

But would I buy one once it's available? My wallet would protest.  Maybe a few years from now, when foldable phones become as common as today's smartphones and affordable. For now, I will admire it from a safe distance and keep my cash and credit card securely in my wallet. 

apple.com/ph

Images downloaded from apple.com/ph. No copyright infringement intended.