Apple Drops Face ID for Touch ID on $1,999 iPhone Duo as First Foldable Marks Biggest iPhone Shake-up in Years

Apple has finally built a foldable iPhone, and in doing so it has quietly abandoned Face ID on its most radical new iPhone design, bringing Touch ID back to a flagship model.

The device, named iPhone Duo, was unveiled on 9 September 2026 at Apple Park in Cupertino during the company's 'Surprise and Shine' event, the first major hardware keynote led by new chief executive John Ternus.

It starts at £1,999 ($1,999) for the 256GB model, rising to £3,199 ($3,199) for the top 2TB configuration, and represents the most significant redesign of the iPhone line since the original device launched in 2007.

A New iPhone, a New CEO, a New Unlock Method

Ternus, who took over as Apple's chief executive on 1 September 2026 after Tim Cook moved into the newly created role of executive chairman, used his first keynote to position the Duo against existing rivals.

He argued that other manufacturers' foldables felt like two separate handsets crudely joined together, and said Apple's version instead offered 'a larger display that feels as natural and intuitive as iPad'. Ternus also described it as the largest screen ever fitted to an iPhone while remaining pocketable.

That larger display comes with the return of Touch ID to Apple's flagship iPhone line.

According to Apple's official press release and newsroom materials, the Duo uses a fingerprint sensor built into the side power button in a design echoing the iPad Air, while Apple has not publicly explained why it opted for Touch ID rather than Face ID on the foldable.

The switch marks a significant change for Apple's premium iPhone range, which moved to Face ID with the iPhone X in 2017. Touch ID has remained available on other iPhone models, including the iPhone SE, but the Duo makes the fingerprint system part of Apple's flagship iPhone design again.

Why £1,999 Gets You a Touch ID iPhone Again

Apple's newsroom announcement lays out the core specifications. Opened, the Duo is described as the thinnest iPhone Apple has built, with a 7.6-inch inner display intended for content, gaming and multitasking, finished with a nano-texture coating designed to cut glare.

Closed, the 5.4-inch outer display provides roughly 90 per cent of the screen area found on the iPhone 18 Pro, and both displays share an identical aspect ratio so content scales consistently between the two.

Power comes from Apple's new A20 Pro chip, paired with a custom-designed vapour chamber for thermal management and a dual-battery architecture built to sustain performance across extended use.

Both displays support ProMotion, Always-On display functionality and peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits, matching figures normally reserved for Apple's high-end Pro models.

The frame is machined from polished titanium, with Ceramic Shield on the rear and the newer Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, and the device carries an IP68 dust and water-resistance rating.

Apple has not published detailed information on hinge-cycle durability or how visible the display crease becomes with repeated use, leaving some questions about long-term durability until reviewers get hands-on units.

What Analysts Are Saying About Ternus's First Big Test

Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo open on 16 October, with the device going on sale on 23 October across more than 70 countries and regions, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, China, France, Germany, India and Japan, with further markets following a week later.

It ships running iOS 27.1, a later software build than the rest of Apple's fresh autumn line-up.

The launch follows reports of delays during the project's development, although Apple has not publicly commented on its timeline.

Wall Street's early reaction was muted, with Apple's stock closing broadly flat after the event.

Ahead of the event, JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee wrote about the importance of the foldable's debut for Apple's premium product strategy, while Yorkville Ives & Co partner Dan Ives told CBS News he believed the device 'could be a major hit for Apple', calling the timing overdue for the company's new hardware chapter under Ternus.

For Apple, the Duo is as much a statement about its next era of leadership as it is about hardware. Whether customers embrace a Touch ID iPhone again will become clear only once the device reaches shelves on 23 October.