The iPhone Duo Will Run iOS 27.1 at Launch on Friday

Apple told CNET in an email in September that when the tech giant launches the iPhone Duo this Friday, Oct. 23, the foldable will launch with iOS 27.1, skipping right past iOS 27.

“When iPhone Duo first becomes available on October 23, it will run iOS 27.1,” Apple said. “This version of iOS builds on the foundation of iOS 27 but introduces features that were purpose-built for the new foldable design.”

Because of those iPhone Duo-specific features, and the fact that Apple began the beta process for iOS 27.2 on Wednesday, Sept. 16, you may not see iOS 27.1 on your device unless you were able to preorder the iPhone Duo.

The Duo is Apple’s first foldable phone, a long-anticipated move into a device category that’s still pretty niche. Launching it alongside a version of iOS tailored to that foldable design could help smooth out the debut of what is likely to be many buyers’ first foldable phone.

However, Apple did say all devices, including the iPhone Duo, will be able to update to iOS 27.2 later this year. So Apple likely won’t stagger iOS releases in the future in this way. And since Apple released the iOS 27.2 release candidate on Monday, Oct. 19, folks likely won’t have to wait long for that update to land on their foldable and non-foldable iPhones.

For more on Apple, here’s everything the company announced at its September event and what you should know about iOS 27. You can also check out what iOS 27.2 might bring to your iPhone in October.

Zachary McAuliffe

Senior writer

Zach began writing for CNET in November, 2021 after writing for a broadcast news station in his hometown, Cincinnati, for five years. You can usually find him hanging out with his wife, son and dog. You can reach him at zmcauliffe@cnet.com.

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