Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone Duo: VideoStorm Gifts One to Every Employee

Apple (AAPL-US) officially unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, in the early hours of Thursday, September 10 (Taiwan time), sparking significant market discussion.

The Chinese domestic version of the iPhone Duo starts at RMB 15,999 for the 256GB model and reaches RMB 26,499 for the top-tier 2TB variant, making it the most expensive model in Apple's current iPhone lineup.

Additionally, the iPhone 18 Pro series has also seen a clear price increase, with starting prices rising by RMB 1,000 compared to the previous generation. Apple's official China website has already listed the iPhone Duo, with pre-orders opening at 8:00 PM on October 16 and official sales beginning on October 23.

Moreover, according to a report by Red Star Capital, sources from the staff of VideoStorm revealed that the company's founder, Pan Tianhong (Tim), will distribute iPhone Duo units—or equivalent alternative models—to all employees. Employees are expected to receive their devices upon the iPhone Duo's initial release.

Screenshots of the internal notice show Tim stating, "Same old rule: one iPhone Duo for everyone (you can choose another model of equal value)." This applies to all employees, whether interns or newly hired staff, as long as they are currently employed. The company will cover all associated taxes.

According to a report by Caijing.com, this marks the fifth consecutive year since 2022 that VideoStorm has gifted new Apple smartphones to its employees. A VideoStorm employee noted that the company has distributed new iPhones each year since the launch of new models, and in 2024, they received the iPhone 16 Pro.