Apple's Foldable iPhone May Spark Massive Upgrade Cycle, But Production Limits Loom
Apple's newly launched foldable device, the iPhone Duo, is expected to start a new 'upgrade cycle' in the market, according to investor Gary Black. The phone starts at $1,999 and features a 7.6-inch inner display with a redesigned iOS that allows apps and content to automatically scale between the outer and inner displays.
Black believes the iPhone Duo will become a 'must-have product' for younger consumers seeking it as a status symbol and to take and share photos and videos. He also noted that the folding form factor makes it ideal for business travelers who can carry one device instead of two.
However, Black warned that limited production of the foldable phone will restrict incremental earnings for potentially six months. He also mentioned an 'unknown cannibalization of iPad sales' following the release.
Other industry figures have reacted positively to the launch, with Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman saying 'Just take my money.' Creative Strategies CEO Ben Bajarin expressed excitement about developer possibilities for the new form factor, and analyst Gene Munster raised his fiscal 2027 iPhone revenue forecast for the Duo from 5% to 10%, stating Apple may have regained its 'device design mojo.'
The AAPL stock was trading 0.88% higher in premarket trading on Thursday, up 15.99% year-to-date and 20.90% over the last six months.