Apple is releasing its first foldable iPhone this fall, commonly referred to as ‘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 been doubtful for a while that Apple will call its upcoming foldable the ‘iPhone Fold.’
Why? Because other companies have been using the ‘Fold’ name for years. And one 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 plenty of times before. Here’s what I wrote last fall:
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 isn’t a VR headset. Per Apple, it’s a “spatial computer.”
Similarly, the company’s AI features aren’t “artificial intelligence,” they’re “Apple Intelligence.”
Based on this pattern, I doubt 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 ‘iPhone Ultra’ might be the name.
But recent rumors about the foldable iPhone’s design and features have changed my mind.
With how popular Apple’s Pro models are, I don’t think you can sell an ‘iPhone Ultra’ that has a worse camera system than the more affordable Pro.
So if it’s not Fold, and it’s not 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 modern Apple is comfortable having fun with its product naming.
Why is it called Neo? Per Apple:
We wanted something that felt fun and friendly, and fresh, and felt like it really suited the spirit of this product
I think ‘iPhone Duo’ similarly could be the best fit for “the spirit of the product.”
The name ‘iPhone Duo’ originated with my colleague Zac Hall. He suggested it as a possibility in our 9to5Mac Slack last fall, shortly after the ‘iPhone Air’ name leaked.
While I didn’t think much of the name then, it’s started feeling spot-on.
The latest expectation for iPhone Fold is that it will be wider than it is tall, and look an awful lot like an iPad mini when unfolded.
How might Apple communicate the uniqueness of this two-in-one type product?
‘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’s not reusing a (current) competitor’s name
- ‘Duo’ has been used by Apple before
- It also feels similar to MacBook Neo
Finally, calling it ‘iPhone Duo’ also helps justify what’s expected to be a premium price point approaching $2,000.
iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199, and the iPad mini starts at $499. Throw both of them together in a single 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 foldable iPhone’s name.
What do you think Apple will call its foldable iPhone? Let us know in the comments.
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