Speculation about the iPhone Duo 2 has already begun, even though customers who preordered Apple’s first foldable phone are still waiting for their devices. Shipping is now set for January 22, which means fans could hear about the next generation before the original model reaches their doorsteps.
The first iPhone Duo goes on sale tomorrow at $1,999. It has a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner screen, and it places a fingerprint sensor in the side button, much like an iPad. Early reviewers have noted that it lacks Face ID, because its slim body leaves no room for the facial recognition hardware.
Face ID hardware reportedly moving under the outer display
Apple is reportedly already developing a second-generation foldable. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says prototypes show Face ID components hidden beneath the outer display. That change could let Apple squeeze every part into its thinnest foldable iPhone yet.
Gurman has also pointed to a broader trend of shrinking components. The iPhone 18 Pro already uses a smaller infrared camera, and the next step could be placing both the infrared camera and the flood illuminator under the screen, which would make the cutout smaller still. The technology might also appear in the rumored 20th anniversary iPhone.
Uncertain timing and a possible Action button
Gurman says Apple has not yet decided whether the feature will make it into the final product. The company is testing the hardware for a new model expected next fall. If development falls behind, Face ID could be delayed until the iPhone Duo 3. This fits his earlier forecast that smaller parts and AI improvements could bring Face ID and a telephoto camera by the third generation.
Gurman also says Apple is weighing an Action button, which the current model lacks. Some staff members are pushing for it and think it is feasible, but nothing has been confirmed.
Supply shortages raise doubts about preorders
Discussing future foldables feels odd, given that opening preorders during a supply crunch has been described as a “major mistake” by Gurman and other analysts. Apple retail staff have reportedly been instructed to warn walk-in customers that stock is limited.
If rumors about the iPhone Duo 2 continue, some buyers may choose to skip the first generation. Paying $2,000 for a phone that could be outdated within eight months is a hard sell for many shoppers.
