iPhone Duo 3rd Generation Expected to Feature Face ID
Just five days after its unveiling, predictions about the third-generation iPhone Duo have emerged. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in his September 14 (local time) 'Power On' newsletter that the third-generation model could feature Face ID, which unlocks the device by scanning the face, along with a telephoto lens that captures distant subjects in sharp detail.
Face ID requires a certain depth for its sensor array, which projects and reads a pattern of infrared dots. A telephoto lens also needs physical distance between its glass lens elements to achieve optical zoom. Meeting both conditions is not easy for the iPhone Duo, given its thin folding frame. "The required components demand considerable depth, making them hard to fit in such a thin device — it's fundamentally a physics problem," Gurman wrote. As a result, Apple chose a side-mounted Touch ID instead of Face ID and a main-plus-ultra-wide dual-camera setup instead of a telephoto camera in the first generation, prioritizing internal space and heat management.
The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display. Starting at $1,999 (about 2.68 million won) for the 256GB model, it is the most expensive iPhone at launch.
In Gurman's scenario, the two technologies move together: components are miniaturized to squeeze a smaller Face ID sensor and telephoto lens into the folding design, while AI-based image processing compensates algorithmically for the less refined hardware output. The rationale rests on the fact that Apple is already investing in compute-intensive photo and authentication features through Apple Intelligence. Gurman predicted that a downsized version of Face ID technology could appear in Apple's upcoming smart home hub before reaching a foldable phone.
That said, this is Gurman's personal speculation based on industry patterns and technical knowledge, not an official confirmation from Apple or a leaked product roadmap. Gurman did not specify a timeline beyond the third generation, and made no mention of whether the second-generation iPhone Duo would gain these features.
The first-generation iPhone Duo opens for pre-orders on October 16 and officially launches on October 23 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, and about 70 countries in total.
