Apple is releasing it The first foldable iPhone this fall, commonly referred to as the ‘iPhone Fold’. That’s why I think its name might be ‘iPhone Duo’.
The foldable iPhone probably won’t be called ‘iPhone Fold’
I’ve been suspicious for a while that Apple will call its next foldable device the ‘iPhone Fold’.
Why? Because other companies have been using the ‘Fold’ name for years. And a great way to let the new iPhone stand out as something unique and different is to give it a really new name.
Apple has made similar moves many times before. Here’s what I wrote last fall:
The Apple Vision Pro is a great example. You won’t find the term ‘VR headset’ in any of Apple’s Vision Pro marketing. Why? Because the product is not a VR headset. For Apple, it’s a “space computer.”
Similarly, the company’s AI features aren’t “artificial intelligence,” they’re “Apple Intelligence.”
Based on this model, I suspect Apple will follow the ‘Fold’ naming scheme that Samsung and Google have popularized for years. The company will want to be seen as doing something new.
Until the last few months, I thought the name might be ‘iPhone Ultra’.
But the latest rumours about the design and features of the foldable iPhone have changed my mind.
As popular as Apple’s Pro models are, I don’t think you can sell an ‘iPhone Ultra’ that has one worst camera system ever 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 has shown that the modern Apple is comfortable having fun with naming its products.
Why is it called Neo? For Apple:
We wanted something that felt fun and friendly and fresh, and we felt like that really fit the spirit of this product
I think the ‘iPhone Duo’ may similarly be the best fit for the “spirit of the product”.
The name ‘iPhone Duo’ originated from my colleague Hall Zac. He suggested it as a possibility in ours 9 to 5 Mac Slack last fall, shortly after the name ‘iPhone Air’ was revealed.
While I didn’t think much of the name then, it started to feel obvious.
The latest expectation for the iPhone Fold is that it will be wider than it is longand they look a lot like an iPad mini when it unfolds.
How can Apple communicate the uniqueness of this two-in-one product?
The ‘iPhone Duo’ makes a lot of sense, for at least four reasons:
- It fits the “spirit of the product” as a 2-in-1
- It is not reusing a (CURRENT) competitor’s name
- ‘Duo’ has been used by Apple BEFORE
- It also feels similar to the MacBook Neo
Finally, calling it the ‘iPhone Duo’ also helps justify 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. Throw the two together into a single product and ~$1,899 doesn’t sound so unreasonable.
This is all speculation, but based on the information we have right now, iPhone Duo is my best guess for the name of the foldable iPhone.
What do you think Apple will call its foldable iPhone? Tell us in the comments.
The best iPhone accessories
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links to earn income. More.
