Apple iPhone Duo Starts at KRW 3,290,000, Korean Preorders October 16…13.6cm Folded and 19.3cm Unfolded
Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo. In South Korea, prices start at KRW 3,290,000 for the 256GB model, with preorders beginning at 9 p.m. on 2026-10-16 and the official launch scheduled for October 23. The device features a 19.3cm foldable display when unfolded and a 13.6cm external display when folded. The Korean model uses eSIM for cellular activation rather than a physical SIM card.
As of 2026-09-10 Korea Standard Time, the important details go beyond the simple fact that Apple has entered the foldable smartphone market. Buyers should examine the price, release schedule, physical dimensions, price differences between storage options, and how the device changes the familiar iPhone experience.
iPhone Duo Prices in South Korea Start at KRW 3,290,000, With the 2TB Model Priced at KRW 5,090,000
The iPhone Duo starts at KRW 3,290,000 for the 256GB model in South Korea. Four storage configurations are available: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Buyers can choose between two colors, Star White and Night Sky.
Prices by storage capacity are as follows.
| Storage Capacity | South Korean Price |
|---|---|
| 256GB | KRW 3,290,000 |
| 512GB | KRW 3,590,000 |
| 1TB | KRW 4,190,000 |
| 2TB | KRW 5,090,000 |
Upgrading from 256GB to 512GB costs an additional KRW 300,000. Moving from 512GB to 1TB adds KRW 600,000, while upgrading from 1TB to 2TB adds KRW 900,000.
Author's calculation: The price difference between the 256GB and 2TB models is KRW 1,800,000.
KRW 5,090,000 - KRW 3,290,000 = KRW 1,800,000, which is approximately 54.7% higher than the 256GB model's price.
Rather than automatically choosing the largest storage option, buyers should consider how many photos and 4K videos they record and whether they use cloud storage. With the starting price already exceeding KRW 3,000,000, checking the total cost, including storage upgrades, is particularly important.
When Can You Buy the iPhone Duo in South Korea?
Preorders for the iPhone Duo in South Korea begin at 9 p.m. on October 16, with the official release scheduled for October 23.
Unlike the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which go on sale earlier on September, the iPhone Duo is scheduled to arrive approximately one month later. This creates different purchasing timelines for people who want a new iPhone immediately and those willing to wait for Apple's first foldable model.
As of September 10, the iPhone Duo has been officially announced, but preorders have not yet opened in South Korea. Before sales begin, prospective buyers should check not only their preferred storage capacity and color but also their mobile carrier's eSIM support requirements.
13.6cm Folded, 19.3cm Unfolded: How Much Does the Size Change?
The iPhone Duo has separate external and internal folding displays. The external display measures 13.6cm, while the internal display used when the device is unfolded measures 19.3cm.
The internal display has a resolution of 1878×2670 pixels, while the external display offers 1398×2034 pixels. Both screens support ProMotion with adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz, as well as always-on display functionality.
When unfolded, the device measures 164.6mm wide, 117.8mm tall, and 5.2mm thick. It weighs 254g. When folded, it measures 84.1mm wide, 117.8mm tall, and 11.3mm thick.
The measurements show that the device is thin when unfolded but more than doubles in thickness when folded. In exchange, its folded design reduces the width it occupies during everyday carrying while allowing users to open a larger screen whenever needed.
The biggest difference from a conventional iPhone is the ability to perform ordinary smartphone tasks on the external screen and unfold the device when additional screen space is required.
What Features Actually Change With the Larger Screen?
The iPhone Duo offers more than a screen that simply folds and unfolds. It supports Split View, allowing users to run two apps side by side on the larger internal display. It also supports opening two windows of the same app, making tasks such as comparing two Safari pages possible.
Apple has also adapted the user experience in iOS 27 to accommodate the foldable design. Content continues as users switch between folded and unfolded configurations, while the larger display provides more room for multitasking.
Another distinctive feature is that the internal and external displays share the same aspect ratio, allowing content to resize proportionally when switching between screens.
Another notable feature is Apple Pencil (USB-C) support. The iPhone Duo is expected to support using an Apple Pencil for taking notes, drawing, and annotating documents in the future. However, users should check the latest official guidance before relying on these capabilities, particularly regarding their availability dates and regional support.
Touch ID Instead of Face ID, and No Physical SIM Card
The iPhone Duo also differs from existing premium iPhones in its authentication system. Touch ID is integrated into the side button, and the model sold in South Korea does not support physical SIM cards, relying instead on eSIM activation.
eSIM is a digital SIM embedded in the device. Rather than inserting a separate plastic SIM card, users activate their mobile service through a process provided by their carrier.
Anyone currently using a physical SIM in an older iPhone should check whether their mobile carrier supports eSIM conversion or quick transfer before changing devices. Because the iPhone Duo has no physical SIM tray, users cannot simply remove their existing SIM card and insert it into the new phone.
How Are the A20 Pro Chip and 48MP Dual Cameras Configured?
The iPhone Duo uses the same A20 Pro chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro series. It features a 6-core CPU, a 7-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. The chip is designed to handle multitasking on the larger display and on-device AI features.
The rear camera system consists of a 48MP Fusion main camera and a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide camera. Rather than using a 3-camera configuration with a separate telephoto lens, the device has two rear cameras.
The foldable design also enables additional photography options. Subjects can preview their framing on the external display, and users can take advantage of the device's ability to unfold or stand upright when capturing images.
The main camera supports Dolby Vision video recording at up to 4K 120fps. However, buyers who prioritize photography should compare the actual camera configurations and required telephoto capabilities rather than focusing solely on the foldable form factor.
Battery Life and Durability: Key Figures to Check
Apple lists up to 44 hours of video playback when using the external display and up to 31 hours of video playback when using the internal display. Actual battery life may vary depending on screen brightness, network conditions, running applications, and activities such as photography and gaming.
The device features a titanium foldable design, with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back. Its water and dust resistance rating is IP68.
For foldable devices, long-term durability involves not only the displays but also the hinge and flexible internal panel. Because the product has only recently been announced, sufficient long-term real-world usage data has not yet accumulated. Buyers who want to evaluate durability based on actual experience should examine long-term user reports after the device is released.
What Should You Consider First When Choosing Between the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro?
Both devices use the A20 Pro chip, but they serve substantially different purchasing needs. The iPhone Duo focuses on the experience of unfolding a larger display, multitasking with two apps simultaneously, using its foldable design for photography, and supporting Apple Pencil functionality.
However, it would be difficult to judge these devices simply by assuming that the most expensive option is automatically the best iPhone. The iPhone Duo starts at KRW 3,290,000 in South Korea, weighs 254g, and measures 11.3mm thick when folded. For people who do not need a foldable display, its price, weight, and thickness may instead become important drawbacks to consider.
The iPhone Duo is particularly suitable for people who frequently use a large screen but do not want to carry a separate tablet, regularly work with two apps at once, or have been waiting for a foldable device within the Apple ecosystem.
Conversely, buyers who prioritize portability, price, telephoto photography, or other features would be better served by directly comparing the specifications of the iPhone 18 Pro series before deciding.
Being Apple's first foldable iPhone does not automatically make the iPhone Duo a straightforward upgrade over existing models. The most practical purchasing decision comes down to whether its starting price of KRW 3,290,000, October 16 preorder schedule, 19.3cm internal display, 254g weight, and eSIM-only design suit the buyer's actual needs.