# Apple Unveils the Foldable iPhone Duo

> New CEO John Ternus debuts Apple's first folding phone and a major AI overhaul for Siri amid economic headwinds.
- Title: Apple Unveils the Foldable iPhone Duo · NPR — Shortify
- Summary: New CEO John Ternus debuts Apple's first folding phone and a major AI overhaul for Siri amid economic headwinds. Apple is betting on a $1,999 passport-sized…
- Keywords: apple, iphone duo, tech, smartphones, artificial intelligence, news, Unveils, Foldable, iPhone, Duo, NPR
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/09/09/nx-s1-5961487/apple-duo-foldable-iphone-john-ternus
- Published: 2026-09-09T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: apple, iphone duo, tech, smartphones, artificial intelligence, news
## A new era at Apple
Newly appointed CEO John Ternus kicked off his tenure by unveiling the iPhone Duo, marking the most radical design shift since the original iPhone.

> iPhone Duo brings an entirely new design while preserving everything you love and expect from iPhone.
## A passport that folds
The device opens like a book, featuring a 5.4-inch outer display that unfolds into a 7.6-inch internal screen.

> It gives you the largest display ever on an iPhone while still fitting easily in your pocket.
## Channeling Steve Jobs
Ternus, a mechanical engineer who led product design, revived Steve Jobs' famous 'one more thing' line during the keynote to signal a return to hardware innovation.
## Entering a niche market
Competitors like Samsung have sold foldables since 2019, but they still account for only about 2% of global smartphone sales worldwide.

> Folding phones are a solid category, but they're not a huge category.
## A steep price tag
Starting at $1,999, the iPhone Duo costs $700 more than the entry-level iPhone 18 Pro and will hit store shelves on October 23.
## Siri gets an AI reboot
Alongside hardware, Apple announced iOS 27 with an AI-powered Siri designed to connect contacts, calendars, and emails into an intelligent personal hub.

> Apple has spent years promising a smarter Siri. Now the bill has come due.
## Betting on on-device AI
Apple is focusing on on-device artificial intelligence rather than cloud-based chatbots, prioritizing user privacy and local processing power.
## Tough headwinds ahead
Rising component costs and flat wages present major hurdles, especially when key software features will also run on older iPhone models.
## Tim Cook stays close
Former CEO Tim Cook will remain executive chair of the board, managing political relations and China manufacturing while Ternus handles product execution.
## Key takeaway

Apple is betting on a $1,999 passport-sized foldable iPhone and on-device AI Siri to re-ignite hardware excitement under new CEO John Ternus.