The incomplete history of Apple and tech Duo devices

Apple has officially announced its first folding screen device, the iPhone Duo, featuring a custom nano-texture display material to minimize visible creases. However, while the device enters a competitive folding phone market alongside Samsung and Google, the moniker it carries is far from being the first of its kind in technology history.

Long before today's announcement, Apple's PowerBook Duo debuted back in 1992 as an ultraportable laptop weighing over 4 pounds. Apple achieved its compact size by omitting built-in ports and expansion features, forcing users to rely on optional docks for peripherals—a foundational approach that paved the way for modern USB hubs used with MacBooks today.

Decades later, Apple introduced the MagSafe Duo charger in 2019, a wireless charging accessory designed to power up an iPhone and an Apple Watch simultaneously. Serving as a consolation prize after the unreleased AirPower, the MagSafe Duo was discontinued in late 2023, clearing the path for the foldable iPhone to claim the Duo identity.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Apple's iPhone Duo is not even the first mobile folding device to bear the name. Microsoft launched the Surface Duo in 2020, avoiding flexible screen technology by utilizing a visible hinge between two 5.6-inch OLED screens. Despite following the Samsung Galaxy Fold's debut in 2019, software and camera hurdles ultimately led to the Surface Duo line's downfall.