Apple CEO John Ternus brought the company’s newly unveiled foldable iPhone Duo to the 2026 Emmy Awards, giving the device an unusual red-carpet appearance ahead of its retail launch.
Ternus was seen arriving at the Emmys on September 14 and pulling the iPhone Duo out of the pocket of his tuxedo jacket. Footage of the moment was captured by Deadline and quickly drew attention online.
The appearance came just days after Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo at its September product event, marking the company’s entry into the foldable smartphone market. Ternus, who took over as Apple CEO from Tim Cook on September 1, introduced the device during his first major product launch as the company’s chief executive.
The iPhone Duo features a foldable design with a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display when closed. Apple says the device is powered by its A20 Pro chip and features a dual-battery architecture, an advanced camera system and iOS 27.
The foldable iPhone starts at $1,999 in the US, while Apple has listed an India starting price of Rs 2,99,900. Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on October 16, with the device set to become available in India and several other markets from October 23.
At the Emmys, however, Ternus was showing off a pre-release device rather than celebrating its availability in stores. The appearance offered the iPhone Duo a high-profile introduction to an audience beyond Apple’s usual technology-focused events.
Apple also had reason to celebrate at the ceremony, with its streaming service winning multiple awards during the 2026 Emmys.
The red-carpet appearance comes as Apple seeks to make its first foldable iPhone a major new chapter for the company under Ternus. The device will face established competition from foldable smartphones offered by companies including Samsung and other Android manufacturers.
While the Emmys appearance generated attention, questions surrounding the iPhone Duo’s everyday battery performance, camera capabilities and long-term durability will only become clearer once consumers begin using the device after its October launch.