Apple's Foldable iPhone Duo Wins Praise, But Market Skeptics Remain

Apple's latest product launch included the debut of its first foldable iPhone, dubbed 'Duo', and shares saw a slight uptick in early trading Thursday. Analysts praised the device's design and lower-than-expected starting price of around $2,000.

Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring noted that Apple prioritizes adoption over near-term economics, making the Duo an attractive option for customers. Samik Chatterjee at JPMorgan also called the device 'attractively priced', suggesting it could appeal to switchers from other foldable smartphones.

However, some analysts expressed concerns about the limited market size for bendable phones, with Laura Martin at Needham stating that they make up only 5% of the total smartphone market. The price increase of $100 on Apple Pro and Pro Max models was also seen as a cautious move to protect volume rather than prioritize margin.