Apple Launches iPhone Duo Foldable Phone at Rs 2,99,900 in India

Apple has compressed its product launch schedule this fall, introducing new versions of its core hardware lines within weeks of each other. The company unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and the AirPods 5, each bringing significant hardware and software upgrades that reflect Apple’s strategic push into artificial intelligence and advanced health monitoring.

The iPhone Duo, priced at Rs 2,99,900 in India, marks a departure from iPhone tradition. It replaces Face ID with Touch ID integrated into the side button and eliminates the SIM tray entirely, relying on eSIM-only connectivity. Both displays support ProMotion and Always On at up to 3,000 nits, with the inner panel featuring a nano-texture finish that reduces glare and makes the crease less visible. The Duo ships with the A20 Pro chip and a dual-battery system. Pre-orders open October 16, with sales beginning October 23.

The iPhone Duo costs nearly twice as much as the iPhone 18 Pro, which starts at Rs 1,64,900. The price premium reflects the folding screen technology and custom software, not superior camera capabilities or processing power. Apple is offering trade-in credit ranging from Rs 4,500 to Rs 81,500, No Cost EMI for up to six months, and instant cashback of up to Rs 7,000 on select bank cards. Cases are sold separately and start at Rs 8,900.

Smartwatch Battery Life and Health Advances

The Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a new Health Sensing System that measures heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. The system checks heart rate variability, or HRV, up to 24 times more frequently than before, delivering what Apple describes as its most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable. The Series 12 offers up to 24 hours of everyday battery life, with up to 10 hours during outdoor workouts. Fifteen minutes of charging provides up to 12 hours of additional battery life. The watch is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes and starts at Rs 56,900 in India.

A new Readiness feature analyzes recent activity, training load, sleep score, and vitals to generate a daily score from 0 to 10. The score then recommends whether users should recover, pace themselves, get ready, or go for it. The Series 12 also integrates Apple Intelligence features through watchOS 27, including Siri AI, Sound Recognition, Live Rewind, and Siri Recap.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 targets athletes and outdoor enthusiasts with extended battery performance. It delivers up to 50 hours of everyday battery life, rising to 84 hours in Low Power Mode. For workouts, Extended Workout mode provides up to 25 hours of tracking, while Max Extended Workout mode extends that to 45 hours. The Ultra 4 includes the same Health Sensing System and Readiness feature as the Series 12, plus improved on-device GPS accuracy and faster step tracking. It is available in natural and black titanium finishes and starts at Rs 1,09,900.

Apple Intelligence in AirPods and Open-Ear Design

Apple has expanded its AirPods 5 with Active Noise Cancellation and hands-free AI features, starting at Rs 14,900. The new open-ear earbuds remove up to 50 percent more external noise compared with AirPods 4 with ANC. They introduce a multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ for improved sound quality across different ear shapes.

The AirPods 5 support Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness, a feature that lowers media volume when the user starts speaking. Personalized Spatial Audio provides a more immersive listening experience. Battery life reaches up to five hours with ANC enabled, while the wireless charging case extends total listening time to 22 hours. The charging case works with Apple Watch chargers, Qi-compatible chargers, and USB-C.

The earbuds also feature hands-free Apple Intelligence access. Users can activate Siri AI and respond using head gestures. Live Translation can convert conversations into the user’s preferred language when paired with a compatible iPhone and supported AirPods. Volume swipe controls on the stem represent a first for Apple’s open-ear AirPods. The earbuds offer improved resistance to dust, sweat, and water through an IP57 rating.

Together, these three product lines, the iPhone Duo, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5, reflect Apple’s efforts to integrate AI capabilities across wearables and mobile devices while expanding hardware options beyond its traditional phone-centric lineup. The foldable iPhone establishes a new product category at a premium price point, the watches emphasize granular health data collection, and the earbuds embed translation and AI assistance into everyday audio devices.