Apple unveils £1,999 folding iPhone Duo
Apple's new boss starts with big gamble on £1,999 first folding iPhone
Thursday, 10 September 2026
Warm-up
- What features do you want in your next phone?
- Have you ever tried a folding phone? What was it like?
- Do you trust tech companies to keep your data private? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
- gamble
- a risky decision that could bring a big win or a big loss
- foldable
- able to bend or close like a book without breaking
- launch
- to introduce a new product to the public
- headquarters
- the main office of a company or organisation
- analyst
- a person who studies markets and gives expert opinions
- hurdle
- a difficulty that must be overcome
- portfolio
- all the products or services a company offers
- transcribe
- to write down spoken words as text
Reading
Apple has launched its most expensive iPhone yet, a foldable, the iPhone Duo, priced from £1,999. The move is a gamble by new boss John Ternus. Apple unveiled it at its California headquarters after rivals like Samsung and Huawei.
The Duo took eight years to develop. Unfolded, it looks like a small iPad; folded, it is a wider iPhone. In the US, prices start at $1,999 and can reach $3,200. Analysts say a key hurdle is China, where Huawei leads.
Some analysts say the launch could refresh the iPhone portfolio, but others warn it may stay a costly niche. Foldables are about 2% of smartphone sales and may reach only 4% over the next decade, one firm says.
Apple also previewed Siri AI, which can search messages, answer queries and transcribe notes; many tasks run on the device to keep data private.
Comprehension
- Who is the new Apple boss behind the iPhone Duo?
- Where was the iPhone Duo unveiled?
- How long did Apple spend developing the iPhone Duo?
- What share of smartphone sales do foldables have now, according to the text?
- What can Siri AI do that was highlighted at the event?
Grammar focus
Connecting words
Connecting words link ideas: show reason, result or contrast. Use because for reasons, so for results, and although/but for contrast. (Examples constructed.)
- Some buyers hesitated, **so** they waited to decide.
- Analysts warned it could stay niche, **although** some were hopeful.
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- The phone is pricey, (so / because) many wait to buy it.
- Some say it will sell, (because / although) demand is low.
- Siri runs on the device, (but / so) data stays private.
- Foldables are rare, (so / because) they cost more.
- Some analysts praise it, (but / so) others warn it's niche.
Discussion
- Is a folding phone worth £1,999 to you? Why or why not?
- Why might Apple enter a market late instead of first?
- What hurdles could stop people switching to foldables?
- How much privacy do you expect from phone assistants?
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