Apple Is Allegedly Ditching Face ID for the New $2,000 'Iphone Duo' Releasing 'As Early as October'

Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at its 'Surprise and shine' event on 9 September 2026, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reporting that the device will be called the 'iPhone Duo,' start at $2,000 (£1,475.59) and could go on sale as early as October.

Apple has confirmed the event, which begins at 10am PT, but has not publicly announced the foldable iPhone's name, specifications, price, or release date. The details remain based on reporting and analyst forecasts ahead of the launch.

iPhone Duo Could Use Touch ID Instead of Face ID

One notable reported change concerns biometric authentication. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the foldable iPhone is expected to omit Face ID and instead use Touch ID integrated into a side button, a claim Gurman has also reported.

Kuo has linked the decision to the need to conserve internal space in a thin foldable design. Apple already integrates Touch ID into the top button on current iPad Air, iPad mini, and entry-level iPad models, although the company has not confirmed that it will use the same approach on its foldable iPhone.

The device is expected to adopt a book-style format with an external display and a larger screen that opens from the centre. Kuo has previously reported a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen, while other reports have suggested slightly different dimensions.

Apple is also reportedly focused on reducing the crease normally visible across foldable displays. Kuo has described a titanium chassis and a hinge using metallic glass, although Apple has not disclosed any materials or engineering details.

Camera reports have also evolved. Gurman's latest reporting points to two 48-megapixel rear cameras and a 12-megapixel front camera. Earlier reports suggested the device could provide camera access in both folded and unfolded positions, but the exact layout has not been confirmed.

Reported $2,000 Price Would Put iPhone Duo at Premium End

Gurman reports that the entry-level iPhone Duo will include 256GB of storage and start at $2,000 (£1,475.59). Higher-capacity versions are expected to cost more, with the top configuration reportedly reaching around $3,000 (£2,213.38).

If that pricing proves accurate, the foldable would become the most expensive iPhone in Apple's range and would enter the market above many existing book-style foldables. The device is reportedly being prepared in white and dark blue, replacing earlier reports that Apple had been testing black and white versions.

Gurman's latest report also says the iPhone Duo will support Apple Pencil. He previously reported that Apple tested a smaller Pencil for use with the foldable device but considered launching that accessory unlikely. Pencil support therefore does not necessarily mean Apple will release a new foldable-specific stylus alongside the phone.

Battery capacity is another area where supply-chain reporting has pointed to changes. Reports have suggested Apple is testing high-density battery cells and seeking additional internal room for battery capacity, an important consideration for a device powering two displays. Apple has not confirmed the battery size.

Gurman has also reported that the foldable will use Apple's C2 modem. Reports also suggest the device will omit a physical SIM slot, although final connectivity specifications remain unconfirmed until Apple formally announces the product.

Sales timing is similarly unsettled. Gurman says the iPhone Duo could 'go on sale as early as October,' indicating that it may arrive after Apple's other new iPhones rather than immediately following the September event.

That wording leaves open the possibility of a later release. Until Apple confirms the device, its specifications and retail schedule, the iPhone Duo name, the $2,000 (£1,475.59) starting price, the Touch ID system, and October availability, treat these as reported details rather than established product information.