Apple is already evaluating next-generation prototypes of its foldable iPhone Duo that incorporate under-display Face ID on the outer screen, according to reporting from Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman. The development comes as the first-generation iPhone Duo reaches stores, highlighting early feedback around its reliance on a side-button Touch ID sensor.
The original iPhone Duo, announced in September 2026 and available starting today, is Apple’s first foldable smartphone. When closed it offers a 5.4-inch outer display; when opened it expands to a 7.6-inch inner display. Both panels share the same aspect ratio for continuity, and the device is notably thin when unfolded. That slim design left limited internal space for the depth-sensing components traditionally required for Face ID, leading Apple to embed a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the side power button instead—similar to recent iPads. Reviewers have frequently cited the switch as one of the bigger adjustments, with some describing it as among the hardest aspects of the new form factor to get used to after years of facial authentication on standard iPhones.
Gurman, speaking on his Power On podcast, said prototypes of the second-generation iPhone Duo already circulating inside Apple include an under-display Face ID sensor and camera on the outer screen. He noted that Apple has been actively working on under-display facial authentication technology, pointing to related progress on the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, where infrared components have moved beneath the display to shrink the Dynamic Island. The same advances could enable a cleaner outer display on a future Duo without a prominent cutout while restoring the convenience of Face ID.
The feature is not guaranteed for the next model. Gurman indicated that testing is underway for a successor expected next fall, but Apple has not finalized the feature set. He suggested the Touch ID-to-Face ID transition could arrive with the first or second update to the Duo line, potentially spanning the next two to three years. Earlier reporting from Gurman had pointed to Face ID (and a dedicated telephoto camera) as more likely targets for a third-generation model, so the existence of second-generation prototypes represents a more concrete step forward.
Apple is also exploring other refinements. Gurman said employees have examined ways to add an Action button—standard on recent Pro iPhones but absent from the first Duo—though he sounded less certain about that addition. It remains unclear whether a future model would drop the side-button Touch ID entirely once Face ID is present, or retain both biometric options so users could authenticate while looking at either the inner or outer display. Larger inner displays and additional camera capabilities remain longer-term possibilities as well.
MacDailyNews Take: With strong pre-order demand already pushing shipping estimates for the first iPhone Duo into early 2027, and the device launching at a starting price of $1,999, the early prototype work signals Apple’s intent to iterate quickly on its foldable platform. Hopefully, under-display Face ID will reach customers with the Duo 2!
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Does Gurman know that Apple has a 6-8 year roadmap for their iPhones? They have very few features which ever ship year-to-year… It’s not a matter of deciding if it’ll work or not, etc… It’s coming, and it’s more than set. They’ve got to finish buttoning it up at this point. DFM is the big deal by now, not their feature set. Sheesh… As if Apple is winging it this late in the game for their next iPhone. Please. Has he ever worked at a high-tech company in Product Management of any are (Engineering, Marketing, Strategic)? My goodness… Get them clicks buddy…