Apple's first foldable, the $1,999 iPhone Duo, opens for preorders Oct. 16

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, will be available to preorder on Oct. 16 and arrive in stores on Oct. 23, at a starting price of $1,999 for 256GB of storage.

What you get

The Duo has a 5.4-inch outer screen and opens to a 7.6-inch inner display. It runs on Apple's A20 Pro chip and has two 48-megapixel rear cameras, including an ultrawide. Apple says a special finish reduces the visible crease and that the hinge is made of more than 100 parts.

Apple rates battery life at up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner screen. The phone uses Touch ID instead of Face ID, supports only eSIM and will work with an Apple Pencil due later this year. It comes in two colors.

Why it matters

Apple is entering a category that Samsung and Google have sold for years. The company unveiled the Duo on Sept. 9, saying its design was inspired by the iPad, with split-screen apps and a half-folded mode for use on a table.