Image: Apple
Compare iD Mobile iPhone Duo deals on Apple's first-ever foldable iPhone, including confirmed UK pricing from £1,999, a fold-out 7.6-inch display, and why iD Mobile is worth comparing once contracts go live.
In short: The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone. Before launch it was widely reported as the "iPhone Ultra", and before that the "iPhone Fold". Unveiled at Apple's September 2026 event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, it opens into a 7.6-inch display that's 50 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max's, closes down to a 5.4-inch outer screen, and unlocks with Touch ID built into the side button rather than Face ID. UK pricing starts at £1,999 for 256GB. Pre-orders open at 1pm on Friday 16 October 2026, and it goes on sale on Friday 23 October 2026.
iD Mobile deals for the iPhone Duo will appear on this page automatically as soon as the network lists them. Until then, here's everything Apple has confirmed, how it compares with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and what to look for in an iD Mobile contract.
1. When is the iPhone Duo coming out?
Apple announced the iPhone Duo at the same September keynote as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. As several pre-launch reports predicted, though, it's arriving later than its siblings. The iPhone 18 Pro range goes on sale on 18 September, and the Duo follows around a month behind:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Pre-orders open | 1pm, Friday 16 October 2026 |
| On sale | Friday 23 October 2026 |
Networks usually list new iPhones for pre-order on the same day as Apple, so expect iD Mobile contracts to appear around 16 October. As a brand-new form factor, early stock could be tighter than for a standard iPhone launch, so it's worth being ready to order promptly.
2. How much does the iPhone Duo cost?
The iPhone Duo is the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. Here's Apple's confirmed SIM-free UK pricing:
| Storage | SIM-free price |
|---|---|
| 256GB | £1,999 |
| 512GB | £2,199 |
| 1TB | £2,599 |
| 2TB | £3,199 |
For context, the 256GB iPhone Duo costs £700 more than the equivalent iPhone 18 Pro Max (£1,299). Apple's own 0% finance works out at £66.63 a month over 30 months for the base model. That's a useful yardstick when judging whether an iD Mobile contract, with airtime included, is good value.
With a phone this expensive, compare deals on total cost over the whole contract rather than the monthly headline figure alone. A small difference in upfront or monthly price adds up to a significant sum over 24 or 36 months.
3. iPhone Duo specs: what Apple has confirmed
Image: Apple
| Specification | iPhone Duo |
|---|---|
| Inner display | 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR folding display with nano-texture, ProMotion up to 120Hz |
| Outer display | 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR |
| Chip | A20 Pro with vapour-chamber cooling |
| Rear cameras | 48MP Fusion Main + 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (no telephoto), 2x optical-quality zoom |
| Front cameras | 12MP Center Stage camera + under-display FaceTime camera |
| Battery | Dual-battery system: up to 31 hours video playback (inner display) or 44 hours (outer display) |
| Security | Touch ID in the side button |
| Build | Grade 5 titanium frame and hinge cover, Ceramic Shield front and back, IP68 |
| SIM | eSIM only |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Colours | Night Sky, Star White |
The largest iPhone display ever
Opened up, the iPhone Duo gives you a 7.6-inch screen. It's the biggest Apple has put on an iPhone, 50 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max's, and when open the Duo is also the thinnest iPhone Apple has made. Folded shut, the 5.4-inch outer display has more than 90 per cent of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro, so it still works as a normal phone for quick tasks. Apple has reworked iOS 27 for the fold. Split View lets you run two apps side by side, and new poses include a tent-style stand for hands-free video calls.
Cameras: two lenses, and no telephoto
The pre-launch leaks were right about the camera. The iPhone Duo has two 48MP rear cameras, a Fusion Main and a Fusion Ultra Wide, with 2x optical-quality zoom but no dedicated telephoto lens. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, by contrast, adds a 48MP Fusion Telephoto camera and a variable aperture on its main camera. The Duo gets foldable-only features instead. Duo Preview uses the outer screen to show your subject a live preview of the shot, and Smart Take can detect when everyone's ready and take the picture for you.
Image: Apple
Touch ID returns
As rumoured, the iPhone Duo uses Touch ID instead of Face ID, with the fingerprint sensor built into the side button. Apple describes it as an easy, secure and consistent way to unlock the phone. Whether that's a downgrade is largely down to personal preference: Touch ID can be quicker for some people, though it may feel like a step backwards if you're used to Face ID's hands-free unlocking.
Battery and performance
Apple has fitted an iPhone-first dual-battery system, helped by an eSIM-only design that frees up internal space. It quotes up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and up to 44 hours on the outer display, with up to 50 per cent charge in around 20 minutes using fast wired charging. The A20 Pro chip is the same one used in the iPhone 18 Pro range, and a vapour chamber keeps performance up under sustained load.
4. Why get the iPhone Duo on iD Mobile?
iD Mobile runs on Three's UK network and generally undercuts the bigger networks on pay-monthly pricing for equivalent data allowances. That matters more than ever on a £1,999 handset. A few things worth checking:
- Contract length. 36-month terms can meaningfully lower the monthly cost on a phone in this price bracket, provided you're comfortable with the longer commitment.
- Total cost over the full term. On a phone this expensive, differences in upfront cost between deals become much more significant in cash terms.
- eSIM. The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only, with no physical SIM tray, so make sure you're set up for eSIM activation when your phone arrives.
- Stock at launch. As a first-generation foldable, the Duo may be harder to get hold of in the first few weeks, so pre-ordering promptly is likely to matter.
5. iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: which should you buy?
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone Duo | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch | 7.6-inch inner, 5.4-inch outer |
| Rear cameras | 48MP Main, Ultra Wide and Telephoto | 48MP Main and Ultra Wide, no telephoto |
| Unlocking | Face ID | Touch ID |
| Chip | A20 Pro | A20 Pro |
| Starting price (SIM-free) | £1,299 | £1,999 |
| On sale | 18 September 2026 | 23 October 2026 |
For most people, the iPhone 18 Pro Max remains the more sensible flagship. It has the same A20 Pro chip, a stronger camera with a telephoto lens, and a starting price £700 lower. The iPhone Duo makes sense if you'll genuinely use the larger folding screen for multitasking, reading or video, and you're happy to pay a significant premium for it.
6. iPhone Duo FAQs
Is the iPhone Duo the same as the iPhone Ultra?
Yes. "iPhone Ultra" and "iPhone Fold" were the names used in leaks and reports before launch. Apple's first foldable iPhone launched as the iPhone Duo.
When can I pre-order the iPhone Duo?
Pre-orders open at 1pm on Friday 16 October 2026, with the phone on sale from Friday 23 October 2026.
How much is the iPhone Duo in the UK?
It starts at £1,999 for 256GB SIM-free, rising to £2,199 (512GB), £2,599 (1TB) and £3,199 (2TB).
Does the iPhone Duo have Face ID?
No. It uses Touch ID, built into the side button.
Does the iPhone Duo have a telephoto camera?
No. It has 48MP Main and Ultra Wide cameras with 2x optical-quality zoom. For a dedicated telephoto lens, you'll need the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max.
Specs and pricing are taken from Apple's UK website. iD Mobile iPhone Duo deals will appear on this page as soon as they're available.
