Apple may develop a cheaper version of the iPhone Duo

(Dan Tri) - iPhone Duo may be just the first step in Apple's folding screen phone strategy. The company is said to be considering devices of different sizes and prices.

Apple has just officially entered the folding screen phone market with iPhone Duo. The device has a 5.4-inch external screen and a 7.6-inch internal screen, with a starting price of 1,999 USD (about 52.7 million VND) in the US.

However, the current iPhone Duo may not be the only folding screen device that Apple is aiming for.

iPhone Duo could be the first step for Apple to build a folding screen product line with many different sizes and prices (Photo: Engadget).

According to Tom's Guide, new information from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shows that Apple is considering expanding this product line in the future. Among them, two notable directions are a larger model and a more accessible price version.

If the plan is implemented, Apple could apply the same strategy to folding phones as many current product lines: offering multiple sizes and prices instead of just maintaining a single device.

A larger folding iPhone

iPhone Duo currently has a 7.6-inch internal screen. When fully opened, the display space is significantly larger than traditional iPhones, aiming for a multitasking experience and viewing content on a wide screen.

One of the directions Apple is said to be considering is developing a larger folding device.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple may develop an "iPhone Duo Max" version with a larger screen in the coming years. This is currently only the name predicted by Gurman, not the product or name confirmed by Apple.

There is currently no specific information about the screen size or design of the device.

It is predicted that Apple may develop "iPhone Duo Max" with a larger screen than the current version (Photo: Apple).

A larger screen could theoretically help Apple expand multitasking capabilities, display multiple content at the same time, and bring the device's experience closer to the iPad when fully opened.

This is also a notable development direction as Apple has spent a lot of effort adjusting iOS 27 for the folding screen form factor. The interface can change to open and closed states and take advantage of the larger display space of the internal screen.

However, the larger size also poses challenges in terms of weight, thickness, battery and durability of the device. These are factors Apple will have to balance if it really develops a folding iPhone model larger than the Duo.

Cheap folding screen iPhone

The other direction that may receive more attention is a folding screen iPhone version with a lower price.

With a starting price of 1,999 USD, iPhone Duo is currently in the group of expensive phones on the market. This price also creates a large gap compared to Apple's regular iPhone lines.

According to Tom's Guide, Apple may consider a more affordable version to expand the customer base for the folding screen product line.

This lower-priced version is called "iPhone Duo SE", based on how Apple used to use the SE suffix for products with more accessible prices. However, this is the name predicted by Gurman, not the product name confirmed by Apple.

"iPhone Duo SE" is expected to be a more affordable version than the current $1,999 iPhone Duo (Photo: Engadget).

A lower-priced version could help folding screen technology reach more iPhone users. However, it is unclear what equipment Apple will choose to cut costs if this device is actually developed.

The company may have to balance price with important factors on folding phones such as screen, hinge, thinness and durability.

Apple has not confirmed that it is developing a larger iPhone Duo or a lower priced version. There is currently no reliable information about the configuration, price or when these products may appear.

The folding screen phone market currently still accounts for a relatively small proportion compared to traditional phones. Therefore, the purchasing power of iPhone Duo can become one of the factors that help Apple evaluate the ability to expand its product portfolio in the coming years.

Although it cannot be confirmed which models will appear after the iPhone Duo, initial information shows that Apple may not consider folding phones as a single product.

If the market responds positively, the iPhone Duo could become the starting point for a new iPhone line with many different sizes and prices.