Gurman Calls iPhone Duo One of Apple’s Most Important Products Ever

iPhone Duo in star white and night sky
Image: Apple

Mark Gurman believes the iPhone Duo could become one of the most important products Apple has ever made. In his latest Power On newsletter, he placed the foldable phone just below the iMac, iPod, iPad, and Apple Watch in Apple’s product history.

That is a large claim for a device that starts at $1,999, but the comparison explains why the Duo matters beyond first-generation sales. Its importance would come from making the foldable format understandable to a much wider audience. Apple is not simply adding another premium model. It is changing the shape of the iPhone while keeping the software and daily habits that customers already understand.

Why Gurman sees a landmark Apple product

Gurman said the Duo feels fresh and has the potential to change the computing landscape for years.

Apple uses similarly ambitious language. In its official announcement, the company calls Duo its most transformational iPhone change since the original. The phone opens to a 7.6-inch display, runs a redesigned version of iOS 27, and uses the A20 Pro chip. Our complete iPhone Duo specifications guide explains what Apple has confirmed.

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The historical comparison also rests on familiarity. The original iPhone made advanced mobile computing approachable through a touch interface. The Duo applies that same principle to foldables, giving buyers a normal outer screen and a larger inner screen without asking them to adopt an entirely separate platform.

Apple’s advantage may come from polish rather than being first. Gurman points to software adaptations, materials, and durability as reasons the Duo feels different from earlier foldables. The company has also built a clear launch story around content, gaming, photography, and multitasking. Our look at Duo Split View shows how that larger screen changes everyday iPhone use.

High prices and first-generation compromises could limit its immediate reach. Even so, historically important Apple products are often remembered for redirecting a market rather than for their first year alone. The Duo now has to prove that its folding screen is useful enough to make that prediction credible. Do you think the iPhone Duo belongs beside Apple’s landmark devices? Share your view in the comments.

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