The ‘iPhone Duo’ is my new top pick for the foldable iPhone brand
Apple is releasing its first foldable iPhone this fall, often referred to as the ‘iPhone Fold.’ Here’s why I think its name might be ‘iPhone Duo.’
The foldable iPhone probably won’t be called ‘iPhone Fold’
I’ve long suspected that Apple would call its upcoming foldable the ‘iPhone Fold.’
Why? Because some companies have been using the word ‘Fold’ for years. And another great way to let the new iPhone stand out as something unique and differentiated is to give it a truly new name.
Apple has made similar moves many times before. Here is what I wrote last fall:
The Apple Vision Pro is a good example. You won’t find the word ‘VR headset’ in any marketing for Apple’s Vision Pro. Why? Because the product is not a VR headset. According to Apple, it is a “local computer.”
Similarly, the company’s AI features aren’t “artificial intelligence,” they’re “Apple Intelligence.”
Based on this pattern, I doubt that Apple will follow the ‘Fold’ naming scheme that Samsung and Google have promoted for years. The company will want to be seen as doing something new.
Until a few months ago, I thought ‘iPhone Ultra’ might be the name.
But recent rumors about the iPhone’s design and foldable features have changed my mind.
As popular as Apple’s Pro models are, I don’t think you can sell an ‘iPhone Ultra’ with a worse camera system than the more affordable Pro.
So if it’s not the Fold, and it’s not the Ultra, what will it be?
My current best guess: iPhone Duo.
iPhone Duo: The perfect name for a 2-in-1 product
This week’s MacBook Neo debut showed that modern Apple is free to have fun with its product innovation.
Why is it called Neo? According to apple:
We wanted something that felt fun and friendly, and fresh, and that we felt really fit the spirit of the brand
I think the ‘iPhone Duo’ would similarly be good for “product spirit.”
The term ‘iPhone Duo’ was coined by my colleague Zac Hall. He suggested it as a possibility for us 9 on 5 Mac Slack last fall, shortly after the ‘iPhone Air’ leak.
While I didn’t think much of the name at the time, it has started to resonate.
The latest expectation for the iPhone Fold is that it will be wider rather than taller, and look an awful lot like the iPad mini when unveiled.
How can Apple connect the different versions of this two-in-one product?
The ‘iPhone Duo’ makes a lot of sense, for at least four reasons:
- It suits the “spirit of the product” as a 2-in-1
- It does not reuse the (current) competitor’s name
- ‘Duo’ has been used by Apple before
- It feels like a MacBook Neo
Finally, calling it the ‘iPhone Duo’ also helps clarify what is expected to be a premium price point approaching $2,000.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199, and the iPad mini starts at $499. Put the two together in one product and ~$1,899 doesn’t sound so unreasonable.
This is all speculation, but based on the information we have now, iPhone Duo is my best guess for the name of the foldable iPhone.
What do you think Apple will call its foldable iPhone? Let us know in the comments.
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