If you’re considering buying the iPhone Duo and wish it had Face ID, you may want to wait. Apple is said to be testing second-generation Duo prototypes with Face ID built under the outer screen. The first model, launching October 23 at $1,999 for 256GB, only unlocks with a fingerprint sensor on the side button. Early reviews said this was the biggest drawback.
Mark Gurman shared this news on the Bloomberg Power On podcast. He says Apple engineers are putting the Face ID sensors and infrared camera under the outer screen. Apple left out Face ID in the first Duo because the device is just 5.2mm thick when open. Reviewers, like those at 9to5Mac, said going back to a fingerprint button was the hardest adjustment.
Apple already uses a similar under-display infrared camera in the iPhone 18 Pro line, so it has experience making these parts smaller. The Duo 2 is expected to arrive in autumn 2027.
Prototypes don’t always become final products. Gurman says Apple hasn’t finished the design yet, so Face ID might not arrive until the third-generation Duo if there are delays. Two other questions remain:
Fingerprint sensor: Apple is deciding whether to remove it from the power button or keep both unlock options. Action button: Engineers are also considering adding a physical Action button, but nothing is final yet.
Back in September, Gurman predicted Face ID would come with the Duo 3. Now, it looks like it could arrive a year earlier.
The first Duo is in high demand. Apple increased production by 44% after preorders sold out, so waiting a year won’t affect availability. The first Duo also has some real advantages, like a less noticeable crease compared to other foldables.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold both have face unlock, so Apple is behind on this feature. Apple hasn’t shared UK or US pricing for the Duo 2, and nothing about the 2027 model is confirmed yet.
If you’re fine with Touch ID on the side button, the current Duo is a good choice. But if you use Face ID every day, it might be worth waiting for the Duo 2—just keep in mind Apple might not release it as soon as expected.