According to Gurman, Cook’s vision to propel Apple’s research and development in foldable smartphones was sparked by the innovative work of manufacturers like Huawei. Recently, Apple unveiled its inaugural foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. This device boasts a book-like folding mechanism, complete with a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer screen. Under the hood, it's powered by the advanced A20 Pro chip, offers compatibility with the Apple Pencil, and is priced starting at $1,999. Despite its cutting-edge features, the iPhone Duo employs a nano-texture coating to minimize the visibility of creases, yet it stands out as the heaviest among its peers. Samsung has not shied away from poking fun at Apple, using advertisements and public statements to highlight the differences.

In the United States, Apple’s foldable smartphones are anticipated to achieve significant sales figures. However, the scenario in the Chinese market presents a stark contrast. Here, Apple contends with formidable challenges, including Huawei’s ascent in market share, the absence of Siri, and the considerable gap between product announcements and actual availability. Furthermore, Apple has decided to roll out only high-end models this fall, postponing the release of the base model until spring 2027. This strategy also involves raising the prices of older models to mitigate memory shortages and sustain high gross margins. Such moves could potentially steer entry-level consumers towards Android devices. At present, the foldable smartphone market remains relatively small, and Apple still needs to tackle core challenges in the AI era.