TECHNOLOGY: Rumours about Apple’s second-generation foldable phone, the iPhone Duo 2, have emerged before the company’s first foldable iPhone reaches customers. With deliveries reportedly scheduled for January 22, buyers could hear about its successor before receiving the original device.
The first iPhone Duo is set to launch tomorrow with a starting price of $1,999. It features a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner screen. However, the device relies on a fingerprint sensor built into the side button rather than Face ID.
Early reviewers have highlighted the absence of facial recognition. The phone’s slim design reportedly leaves insufficient room for the hardware required to support Apple’s Face ID system.
Apple Tests Under-Display Face ID for iPhone Duo 2
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is already testing prototypes of its second-generation foldable iPhone. These prototypes reportedly feature Face ID hardware hidden beneath the outer display.
The technology could allow Apple to integrate facial recognition without increasing the device’s thickness. It would also help the company maintain the slim design of its foldable phone.
Apple has been gradually reducing the size of its components. The smaller infrared camera reportedly featured in the iPhone 18 Pro illustrates this approach.
The company could take the next step by placing both the infrared camera and flood illuminator beneath the display. This would reduce the need for a visible cutout and could also pave the way for similar technology in the rumoured 20th-anniversary iPhone.
However, Gurman says Apple has yet to decide whether under-display Face ID will make it into the final product.
Face ID Could Be Delayed Until iPhone Duo 3
Apple is testing the technology for a new model expected next autumn. However, development delays could push the feature back to the iPhone Duo 3.
The possibility aligns with Gurman’s earlier predictions. He suggested that smaller components and improvements in artificial intelligence could eventually allow Apple to introduce Face ID and a telephoto camera in the third generation of its foldable phone.
For now, the timing remains uncertain. Apple’s final decision will depend on whether the technology is ready for commercial production.
Apple Also Considers an Action Button
Face ID is not the only potential upgrade under consideration. Gurman also reports that Apple is evaluating an Action button for the foldable iPhone.
The current model does not include the feature. Some Apple employees reportedly support adding it and believe the change is technically feasible.
However, the company has not confirmed whether the button will appear in the next generation.
Limited Stock Could Affect First-Generation Sales
The early rumours come at a challenging time for Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Gurman and other analysts have reportedly described opening preorders amid supply constraints as a “major mistake.”
Apple retail employees have also been instructed to warn walk-in customers about limited availability.
The prospect of a successor arriving relatively soon could influence purchasing decisions. Some buyers may hesitate to spend $2,000 on the first-generation model if its replacement could arrive within eight months.
Still, Apple has not confirmed the iPhone Duo 2’s features or launch timeline. For now, buyers will need to weigh the appeal of the first foldable iPhone against the possibility of future upgrades.
