Apple iPhone Duo UAE pre-orders open at Dh8,499 despite hardware trade-offs

Apple will open pre-orders for its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, in the UAE on Friday, 16 October, with retail availability starting on Friday, 23 October. Priced at Dh8,499 for the 256GB base model, the device enters the market as Apple’s most expensive mobile offering to date, carrying a Dh3,000 premium over the iPhone 18 Pro Max. High costs for folding displays The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch cover screen that unfolds into a 7.6-inch internal display, designed for multitasking with two concurrent apps. Despite the high entry price, which reaches Dh13,599 for the 2TB storage tier, the device lacks several hardware features found in the more affordable iPhone 18 Pro series. According to pricing data, the 256GB Duo is Dh3,400 more expensive than the iPhone 18 Pro (Dh5,099) and Dh3,000 more than the 18 Pro Max (Dh5,499). While the Duo shares the A20 Pro chip and 120Hz ProMotion technology with its siblings, it introduces significant hardware trade-offs to accommodate the folding form factor. Missing Pro-tier hardware Technical specifications show the iPhone Duo has replaced Face ID with a side-mounted Touch ID sensor. The camera system also sees a downgrade; the Duo lacks the 48MP 4x tetraprism telephoto lens found on the Pro models, limiting its optical zoom capabilities. Instead, users receive a dual-camera array consisting of a 48MP main sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide lens. Furthermore, the Duo removes the programmable Action button and lacks the…