Apple is testing larger versions of its foldable iPhone Duo and eyeing the addition of a telephoto camera for a future iteration, sources familiar with the company’s plans recently shared on the “Power On” podcast. These changes aren’t expected in the current model, but they underscore Apple’s ambition for the Duo’s evolution by 2028.
Bigger screens, new form
The current iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch interior foldable display. The upcoming third-generation model is likely to stretch that by about half an inch, pushing the inner display into the “high sevens, very low eights” range. That increase is modest—not headed toward jumbo sizes like 8.5- or 9-inch displays—but continues a trend Apple has followed with its Pro line, which saw screen sizes creep up gradually in recent generations.
Alongside the screen size bump, Apple is exploring under-display Face ID and possibly an Action button—tools that could reshape how users interact with the Duo. These are part of a broader set of features under review for future versions.
Telephoto lens: in reach but tricky
A telephoto camera is reportedly on Apple’s roadmap, but it won’t be easy to integrate into a folding dual-screen device. The company’s biggest hurdles are spatial: it’s not a question of cost, but the physics of fitting a lens with enough depth into the foldable body without compromising durability or usability. How Apple resolves this will take creative engineering.
No firm timeline was given for when users might see that telephoto module. It could arrive in the third-generation model or perhaps beyond, depending on how these technical challenges are addressed.
What it all means
These rumors suggest that Apple is refining the iPhone Duo’s foldable form to compete more aggressively in the flagship space. A larger screen enhances media and productivity use, while a telephoto lens would boost camera versatility—longstanding priorities in premium phones. But balancing display size, camera performance, and the mechanics of a foldable body is a delicate engineering act.
For consumers, the questions are whether the incremental size increase justifies the trade-offs—weight, thickness, durability—and whether telephoto capability is a key missing piece. As Apple experiments, what’s coming in 2028 may be the point where the foldable Duo helps decide whether Apple can redefine what a dual-screen or foldable phone really should be.
