Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market could help move the category from a niche segment into the mainstream, according to GlobalData, following the unveiling of the company’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, at its annual September product showcase.
Amanda Mitchell, Senior Analyst – Telecoms Practice at GlobalData, said Apple is using the strength of its brand and large installed user base to accelerate adoption of foldable devices, while also helping normalize the category’s premium pricing.
According to Mitchell, Apple’s later entry into the market has allowed it to refine technologies already introduced by competitors. The iPhone Duo features a specially engineered aluminium hinge, an IP68 water- and dust-resistance rating, smooth transitions between its displays and an internal-screen crease that Apple says is almost imperceptible.
However, GlobalData noted that the device remains a first-generation product with a significant price premium. The iPhone Duo is priced between $1,999 and $3,199, with higher component costs — particularly memory and storage — adding pressure to flagship smartphone pricing as demand from artificial intelligence data centres competes with consumer electronics for chips.
Mitchell also pointed to several compromises compared with Apple’s own Pro iPhones and competing foldable devices. The Duo uses a two-camera system without a dedicated telephoto lens and relies on side-mounted Touch ID rather than Face ID. By comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra offers a larger internal display, a three-camera system and up to 16GB of RAM.
Artificial intelligence was another major focus of Apple’s latest product announcements. GlobalData said Apple’s strategy appears to centre on bringing Apple Intelligence and a more context-aware Siri to its existing user base, rather than attempting to outpace Google and Samsung purely through new AI features.
The company is also extending this approach across devices such as the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, using personal activity and health data to deliver more tailored guidance.
GlobalData added that Apple’s scale could allow it to narrow the competitive gap in AI relatively quickly, although the increasing use of personal data by intelligent assistants could place greater scrutiny on the company’s long-standing privacy positioning.
Source: GlobalData
