Apple enters foldable era with iPhone Duo alongside iPhone 18 Pro lineup

Kathmandu, September 10

Apple has officially unveiled its first-ever foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro series, Apple Watch Series 12, and AirPods 5 at its annual global hardware keynote on Wednesday night.

The launch marks a significant shift for the Cupertino-based tech giant as it directly enters the foldable market, long dominated by rivals Samsung and Huawei.

The book-style iPhone Duo features a passport-style aerospace titanium frame with a 5.4-inch outer cover screen that unfolds into a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner display. Designed for heavy multitasking, the device runs on Apple’s newest 2nm A20 Pro chipset and carries a starting price of $1,999 (approx. NPR 268,000 before taxes).

It is also Apple’s first completely eSIM-only smartphone globally, eliminating physical SIM card slots entirely, and introduces high-density dual silicon batteries designed to sustain up to 44 hours of usage.

Hosting his first major product keynote as Apple’s new Chief Executive Officer, John Ternus framed the launch as a landmark moment in personal technology.

“The iPhone Duo represents the most radical leap in the history of the iPhone,” Ternus stated during the event. “By combining two decades of display engineering, custom silicon, and dynamic hardware design, we are delivering an entirely new form factor that gives users an unprecedented workspace without compromising on performance or portability.”

Alongside the foldable device, Apple introduced the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring refined cameras with cinematic slow-motion support at 60 fps, upgraded Siri AI integration via iOS 27, and a new signature Burgundy color option.

In addition to smartphones, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, both equipped with an advanced Health Sensing System capable of tracking Dynamic Readiness scores and calculating a user’s “Health Age.” The company also launched the AirPods 5, featuring upgraded Active Noise Cancellation and real-time Live Translation capabilities.

Global Pricing & Availability

Authorized Apple resellers in Nepal are expected to announce local pricing and official pre-order dates for the iPhone 18 series and wearable lineup in the coming weeks ahead of Dashain.