iPhone Duo 2 Prototypes Reportedly Feature Under-Display Face ID
Apple’s second-generation foldable may finally gain facial recognition. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, iPhone Duo 2 prototypes already incorporate Face ID technology beneath the outer display, signaling that Apple is actively testing the feature for its next foldable.
In the latest episode of his “Power On” podcast, Gurman described Apple’s work on adding facial authentication technology to its foldable iPhone. The company is said to be testing the hardware for a successor expected next fall, but it has not finalized whether the feature will ship.
The report suggests Apple is prototyping Face ID for the iPhone Duo 2 rather than merely considering it for a distant future model.
Why the Current iPhone Duo Relies on Touch ID
The current, first-generation iPhone Duo relies on a fingerprint sensor embedded in its side button, just like the iPad. Its thin design leaves limited space for the depth-sensing components needed for Face ID.
That constraint explains why Apple’s first foldable shipped without facial recognition. Fitting the TrueDepth camera system into a slim foldable chassis is a genuine engineering challenge, and the first-generation hardware apparently could not accommodate it.
A More Concrete Development
News of the prototype seems to represent a more concrete development of Gurman’s earlier prediction about future iPhone Duo upgrades. In September, he suggested that smaller components and advances in artificial intelligence could help Apple add Face ID and a dedicated telephoto camera by the third generation.
The shift from a third-generation prediction to working prototypes for the second generation signals that Apple’s component miniaturization work may be progressing faster than expected.
An Action Button Could Also Arrive
Gurman also said that Apple is considering adding an Action button to a future iPhone Duo. The feature is noticeably lacking on the current model.
The Action button, which Apple introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and later brought to more models, lets users assign a custom shortcut to a physical side button. Its absence on the first iPhone Duo is one of several ways the device differs from Apple’s flagship iPhones.
What to Know About the First iPhone Duo
The first iPhone Duo launches tomorrow with a starting price of $1,999.
That launch context matters for anyone weighing a purchase. The first-generation model arrives with Touch ID in the side button and no Action button, while reports of Face ID testing for the iPhone Duo 2 point to meaningful changes in the follow-up.
Face ID Still Not Confirmed
It is important to note that Apple has not finalized whether Face ID will ship in the second-generation device. Prototypes exist, but prototype hardware does not always reach store shelves.
Gurman’s reporting describes testing rather than a confirmed final specification, so buyers should treat the feature as a possibility rather than a certainty until Apple officially announces the device.
iPhone Duo 2: What the Rumors Suggest
| Feature | Current iPhone Duo | iPhone Duo 2 (Reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | Touch ID in side button | Under-display Face ID (prototype, unconfirmed) |
| Action button | Not included | Under consideration |
| Expected timing | Launches tomorrow | Next fall |
| Starting price | $1,999 | Not announced |
The table summarizes what is known so far. Only the first-generation details are confirmed by Apple; the iPhone Duo 2 column reflects Gurman’s reporting and remains subject to change.
The Bigger Picture for Apple’s Foldable
The first iPhone Duo is shaping up to be a typical first-generation Apple product, and early buyers are already debating whether to wait for the second model. Historically, Apple’s second-generation hardware tends to address the most criticized limitations of the original.
For the foldable line, Face ID and an Action button would close two of the most obvious gaps between the iPhone Duo and Apple’s standard iPhones. Whether both arrive next fall, or whether Face ID slips to a later generation as Gurman originally predicted, will depend on how Apple’s testing progresses.
For now, the takeaway is simple: Apple is reportedly working on Face ID for the iPhone Duo 2, but the company has not committed to shipping it.
