Apple has entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, but Indian buyers will have to pay a steep premium for the company’s first foldable device. The phone starts at ₹2,99,900 in India, compared with a starting price of $1,999 in the US.
The price makes the iPhone Duo the most expensive iPhone Apple has launched in India at the entry level. The top-end 2TB version goes even further, costing ₹4,49,900. That puts the phone in a price bracket where buyers could also consider entry-level cars or other high-end electronics.
Apple is offering four storage variants in India. The 256GB model costs ₹2,99,900, while the 512GB version is priced at ₹3,24,900. The 1TB model costs ₹3,74,900 and the 2TB variant comes at ₹4,49,900.
The sharp jump in price compared with the US has made the India-US iPhone price gap one of the biggest talking points around the launch. Taxes and the way Apple prices products in different markets are among the factors behind the difference. US Apple Store prices are generally shown before state-level sales taxes, while Indian prices include applicable taxes.
The pricing also reflects the fact that Apple is treating the iPhone Duo as an entirely new premium category rather than simply another iPhone upgrade. The company has spent years watching Samsung and other smartphone makers develop foldable devices before entering the segment.
The iPhone Duo uses a book-style design that opens into a much larger screen. It has a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display, giving users a tablet-like screen when the device is unfolded. Apple has also built the phone around its new A20 Pro chip and offers storage of up to 2TB.
The hardware is designed to make the foldable experience feel closer to a conventional iPhone. Apple has used a titanium frame, a custom hinge and magnets to keep the device closed. The company has also focused on keeping the inner display flat when the phone is opened.
The camera setup is different from Apple’s Pro models. The iPhone Duo comes with a dual 48MP camera system, while the phone’s larger internal screen is designed to support multitasking and other software features made specifically for the foldable form factor.
Apple’s decision to offer up to 2TB of storage also pushes the phone deeper into premium territory. Interestingly, India has one of the smaller percentage increases between the base 256GB model and the top 2TB version. The jump in India is 50%, compared with 60% in the US and UK and 69% in Australia.
The storage pricing follows a consistent structure across markets. In India, moving from 256GB to 512GB costs another ₹25,000. The jump to 1TB adds ₹50,000, while moving from 1TB to 2TB adds ₹75,000.
Apple is also giving Indian buyers financing options. The company’s India store lists monthly payments starting at around ₹48,817 for the base model under a six-month EMI plan, making the high upfront price somewhat easier to spread out.
The iPhone Duo will open for pre-orders in India on October 16, with sales beginning on October 23. It is part of Apple’s first-wave launch across more than 70 markets.
The foldable arrives as Apple makes other notable changes to its pricing in India. Rather than cutting prices of older models after the new iPhone launch, the company has increased prices on several existing devices. The iPhone 17, for example, now starts at ₹99,900 in India, up from its earlier ₹82,900 launch price.
That makes the iPhone Duo’s launch part of a broader shift in Apple’s India pricing strategy. The company is clearly keeping its newest hardware at the premium end while continuing to expand its product range across different price points.
The bigger challenge will be convincing Indian consumers that a foldable iPhone offers enough of a difference to justify spending nearly ₹3 lakh. Samsung has already built a presence in the foldable market, while several Chinese brands compete with lower-priced alternatives.
Apple, however, has a major advantage in its ecosystem and brand loyalty. The iPhone Duo combines the familiar iOS experience with a new form factor, a larger display and high-end hardware.
The ₹2.99 lakh starting price means the foldable iPhone is unlikely to become a mass-market device in India immediately. Apple appears to be targeting customers willing to pay for new technology and the exclusivity of owning its first foldable.
The response from Indian buyers will ultimately determine whether Apple’s premium strategy works. If demand remains strong despite the price, the iPhone Duo could give Apple a powerful entry into the foldable smartphone market. If consumers hold back, the nearly ₹3 lakh price could become the biggest hurdle for Apple’s newest iPhone category.
