Apple’s decision to call the device the iPhone Duo was not entirely unexpected. As early as April, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber had predicted with considerable accuracy that the foldable would be called iPhone Duo.

The name surfaced again on social media last week, shortly before Apple unveiled the device.

Why did iPhone Ultra become the familiar name?

For months, iPhone Ultra was the name most commonly associated with Apple’s foldable iPhone in media reports. Much of that speculation stemmed from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

In March, Gurman suggested that iPhone Ultra would be a fitting name for Apple’s new foldable device.

He later reported that a number of Apple employees were also using the iPhone Ultra name when referring to the product.

That fueled further speculation across the technology industry that Apple might actually adopt the name when the device was officially unveiled.

Gurman was not alone. Filipe Esposito, a former Macworld reporter, also cited a source said to be familiar with Apple’s plans.

That source claimed the foldable iPhone would be called iPhone Ultra.

The information ultimately proved incorrect.

Notably, Gurman later confirmed the iPhone Duo name in a report published shortly before Apple officially introduced the device.

That marked the last time iPhone Ultra was seriously considered a contender before Apple revealed its choice.

The iPhone Duo is not really an ‘Ultra’ iPhone

Apple’s decision not to use the iPhone Ultra branding makes sense when the device’s specifications and market positioning are taken into account.

The iPhone Duo features a large 7.6-inch interior display when fully unfolded, significantly larger than the screens on conventional iPhones.

However, it lacks several premium features typically associated with Apple’s Pro and Pro Max models.

For example, the iPhone Duo has no dedicated telephoto camera, Face ID or Action button.

That makes it difficult to view the iPhone Duo as Apple’s ultimate high-end iPhone in the traditional sense.

Instead, what distinguishes the device is its foldable design and ability to switch between two different modes of use.

In other words, Apple appears to be positioning the iPhone Duo as an entirely new product line rather than turning it into an “Ultra” version of the iPhone Pro Max.

What does the iPhone Duo name mean?

Apple has used the Duo branding for several products in the past. Notable examples include the PowerBook Duo laptop line introduced in the 1990s and the MagSafe Duo Charger launched in the early 2020s.

In the case of the iPhone Duo, the meaning is even more straightforward: Duo refers to the device’s two displays.

When folded, the iPhone Duo can be operated using its exterior screen. Open it up, and users get a much larger interior display with considerably more screen space.

The name therefore focuses directly on the defining feature of Apple’s foldable iPhone.

Could iPhone Ultra still appear in the future?

Although iPhone Ultra has effectively been dropped from the foldable iPhone story, the Ultra branding remains important across Apple’s ecosystem.

Apple currently uses the Ultra name for a range of products and platforms, from Apple Watch Ultra and CarPlay Ultra to its high-end chips, including the M1 Ultra through M5 Ultra.

The fact that the iPhone Duo did not receive the Ultra name therefore does not necessarily mean Apple will never use the branding for an iPhone.

Apple is reportedly preparing a special iPhone to mark the 20th anniversary of the device.

If those rumors prove accurate, it could provide an opportunity for Apple to revive the iPhone Ultra name for a product more fitting of the designation.

For now, however, the iPhone Ultra chapter has closed. Apple’s first foldable iPhone carries a different, simpler name - one that more directly reflects its dual-screen design: iPhone Duo.

Hai Phong