Apple’s first major foldable iPhone is not simply an attempt to follow an existing smartphone trend. According to new Apple CEO John Ternus, the iPhone Duo was developed around a different question, how could Apple create a larger mobile experience without making the device feel like two conventional phones joined together?
Speaking after Apple’s September event, Ternus discussed the thinking behind the iPhone Duo, the engineering challenges involved in creating it, Apple’s approach to artificial intelligence and his unexpected transition into the company’s top leadership position. His comments provide a broader look at how Apple intends to approach product development under its new CEO.
Why Apple Chose an iPad-Inspired Foldable Shape
The iPhone Duo’s internal proportions are one of the clearest examples of Apple taking a different route from other foldable smartphones. Rather than simply combining two traditional phone-shaped displays, Apple designed the unfolded device around the type of larger-screen experience associated with the iPad. Ternus explained that the company wanted the open device to feel natural rather than resembling two smartphones connected at the center. That philosophy also influenced the aspect ratio Apple selected.
The company already had years of experience designing large displays for iPads, giving its engineers a foundation for determining how a larger foldable iPhone should feel when opened. Apple’s design team has separately explained that notebooks and the proportions of the international A-series paper standard influenced the Duo’s physical dimensions. The goal was to provide substantially more screen space while retaining a form factor that remains practical to carry.
Engineering the Foldable Was a Different Challenge
Creating the iPhone Duo required Apple to solve technical problems that do not exist in a conventional smartphone. Ternus acknowledged that the development process involved numerous engineering challenges. Among the most important were the hinge mechanism and the flexible display, both of which needed to remain reliable through repeated use.
For Apple, durability appears to have been a major consideration before bringing the product to market. Ternus has previously said that Apple waits until a product reaches its internal standards for quality, durability and design before launching it.
The foldable format gave Apple an opportunity to reconsider multiple aspects of the traditional iPhone rather than simply adding a folding mechanism to an existing design. The company also developed a variable-torque hinge system designed to make opening the device easier while encouraging the display to remain flat once fully unfolded.
This engineering approach shows why the Duo represents a broader product-development exercise for Apple. The company had to rethink not only the display but also the physical interaction between the two halves of the device.
Software Had to Feel Like One Continuous Experience
Hardware was only half of the challenge. Apple also wanted the software to make the transition between the external and internal displays feel natural. Its interface designers focused on maintaining familiar controls and visual continuity so that users would not feel as if they were switching between two separate devices.
The concept is essentially an expansion of the existing iPhone experience. When the Duo opens, the interface grows with the available screen rather than forcing users to relearn where important controls are located. Apple’s designers have identified the Mac, iPad and traditional iPhone as influences on the Duo’s interface.
They described the result as a combination of ideas taken from across Apple’s existing product ecosystem. Developers could eventually become an important part of the product’s evolution. Apple expects software creators to discover new applications for the larger foldable display that the company itself may not have anticipated.
Apple’s AI Strategy Will Not Focus on Companionship
Ternus also addressed artificial intelligence and Apple’s vision for AI-powered assistants. His comments reinforced Apple’s position that its AI systems should not attempt to replace human relationships. According to Ternus, Apple’s Siri AI is not intended to function as a personal friend or substitute for social interaction.
That philosophy differs from some emerging AI products that emphasize conversational companionship. Apple instead appears focused on integrating AI into practical aspects of its devices while maintaining a distinction between technology and human relationships. Ternus emphasized that relationships play an important role in how people learn, develop and experience happiness. His comments suggest that Apple’s AI strategy will continue to prioritize utility rather than presenting AI as a replacement for human connection.
A New CEO Takes Center Stage
The interview also offered insight into Ternus’ transition from Apple’s hardware leadership to the CEO position. He revealed that the opportunity to succeed Tim Cook came as a surprise. When Cook and Apple’s board asked whether he would consider becoming CEO, Ternus said he had never imagined that scenario happening.
The transition became particularly visible during Apple’s September event, when Ternus delivered his first major keynote as CEO and introduced the company’s latest products. One symbolic moment came when he used Apple’s famous “one more thing” phrase. Ternus described the opportunity as special because he had watched both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook use the phrase during previous Apple presentations.
What the Duo Says About Apple’s Future
The iPhone Duo could ultimately become more significant than another product category for Apple. Its development required the company to combine foldable hardware, new hinge technology, flexible displays and an interface designed around changing screen dimensions. At the same time, the product arrives as Apple enters a new leadership era under Ternus.
The Duo is scheduled to launch on October 23, with preorders beginning October 16. Its starting price is $1,999. For Apple, the product represents an opportunity to establish its own interpretation of the foldable smartphone market rather than simply reproducing designs already available elsewhere. Ternus’ comments also indicate that Apple’s next chapter will involve more than hardware changes. The company is simultaneously developing its approach to AI, refining its ecosystem and experimenting with new product formats.
The iPhone Duo therefore provides an early indication of how Apple under Ternus may approach innovation: introduce new technology only after it can be integrated into a broader experience that meets the company’s expectations for design, reliability and usability.
