(Credit: Eric Zeman)
I watch Apple's September event every year, and most years, I struggle to muster enthusiasm as the company unveils marginally better versions of products that already exist. But this year, Apple gave us something new: the iPhone Duo. While the internet is currently losing its mind over the $1,999 starting price tag, the outrage overlooks the bigger picture. After all, other iPhones already cost as much or more, and monthly Apple Upgrade plans can soften the immediate impact on your budget. I can't believe I'm saying this, but let me break down why $2,000 isn't such a bad price for a new foldable phone.
A Top-Tier Pro Max Already Costs More Than the Duo
For all the breathless commentary about Apple's audacity in charging $1,999 for a phone, this is something the company already does. For example, I currently own a 1TB Pro 17 Pro Max, which retails for $1,599. (I got mine for effectively nothing, courtesy of a carrier switch). However, the top-end 2TB variant of that model goes for $1,999, the same price as the base Duo.
Taking a look at the iPhone 18 line, a 1TB 18 Pro Max will run you $1,899, while the 2TB version costs a princely $2,499. The regular 18 Pro isn't much cheaper, either. A 1TB 18 Pro goes for $1,799, and the 2TB 18 Pro costs almost as much as the Pro Max at $2,399. I'm not disputing that any of these phones are expensive. But the fact that the iPhone Duo, which provides 50% more screen real estate than a Pro Max and required untold millions of dollars in R&D, starts at a lower price than even some of those models is remarkable.
Yes, the base iPhone Duo has 256GB of storage, which is...not a lot in 2026. However, it's also not crazy to consider trading some storage capacity on a traditional phone for the flexibility of a foldable. I prefer having 1TB on my phone, but I could easily make do with 512GB. And the difference between a 1TB 18 Pro Max ($1,899) and a 512GB Duo ($2,199) is just $300, which isn't a huge sum when you're already in the market for a luxury phone.
You Aren't Saving Much Money With Other Foldables, Either
It's one thing for the Duo to be competitive with other current-generation iPhones, but how does it stack up against foldables that have been around for years?
Looking at our current favorite, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, there isn't much of a difference. The base Samsung model with 256GB of storage goes for just slightly less at $1,899. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which has an excellent camera, matches that price, while the Motorola Razr Ultra, which has impressive battery life, undercuts them all with a starting price of $1,499.
Top Android-based foldables aren't quite as expensive as the Duo, sure, but the savings are nominal in most cases. The reality is that foldable phones are simply expensive to engineer and manufacture.
Monthly Financing Eases the Price Gap
I never buy phones outright. I always add it to my monthly phone bill instead of spending an egregious amount of money all at once on a rectangle I mostly use to watch YouTube videos. In that case, the base iPhone Duo starts at $57.99 per month via the Apple Upgrade program. Even if you want to spring for a top-end 2TB iPhone Duo ($3,199), it costs less than $100 per month ($92.81).
Monthly pricing via the Apple Upgrade program for the base iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is $34.99 and $37.99 per month, respectively. Depending on the comparison you make (especially if you're willing to give up storage in favor of a foldable design), the difference could be as little as a couple of dollars per month. Once again, I would never call any of these phones cheap, but the Apple Upgrade program makes it difficult to see the Duo as a much worse value.
Keep in mind that the prices above are for a 24-month term, and that you don't get to keep the device at the end, unless you pay off your remaining balance. You also must keep the phone in good condition to avoid damage fees when you return it. Traditional monthly financing plans, in which you own the device at the end, cost more per month.
Cheap AppleCare+ Eliminates the Foldable Fear Factor
My biggest fear about buying an expensive foldable phone is breaking it and potentially facing a thousand-dollar repair bill. After all, horror stories about the durability of foldables are easy to find, and it remains to be seen how Apple's claims about the Duo's hinge and displays will hold up.
However, AppleCare+ solves these concerns. As of this writing, AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss protection for the iPhone Duo costs $19.99 per month (or $199.99 per year) and features "unlimited repairs for accidents like drops and spills." Those unlimited repairs aren't free, but Apple notes that with AppleCare+, repairing an iPhone screen costs $29, fixing other damage costs $99, and replacing a lost or stolen iPhone costs $149.
Unless Apple updates its AppleCare+ policy with a new tier for the iPhone Duo that's significantly more expensive before preorders go live on October 16, that's an excellent deal. Just $149 to replace what could be a $3,200 iPhone? That's all the peace of mind I could ever want, especially when my primary concern is with the screen shattering after a drop.
The Verdict: It's as Fairly Priced as 2026 Tech Gets
In the middle of an industry-wide memory crisis, almost every new piece of tech is painfully marked up—and the iPhone Duo was never going to escape that reality. Apple could have slapped an astronomical price tag on a brand-new foldable form factor and still sold units day one. Instead, by keeping its baseline pricing aligned with the top-end iPhone 18 Pro lineup, Apple made its biggest leap in years surprisingly defensible. I haven't decided if I'm buying one yet—but if I pass, it won't be because of the price tag.
About Our Expert
I’ve been writing about consumer technology and video games for over a decade at a variety of publications, including Destructoid, GamesRadar+, Lifewire, PCGamesN, Trusted Reviews, and What Hi-Fi?, among many others. At PCMag, I review AI and productivity software—everything from chatbots to to-do list apps. In my free time, I’m likely cooking something, playing a game, or tinkering with my computer.
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