There is a lot to like about the iPhone Duo. Apple’s foldable smartphone has taken a while to get here but in the couple of weeks since its launch, it has made an impact.
Some of that hasn’t been for the right reasons – reports of failing screens and stock shortages, for example – but on the whole, the opinion seems to be that Apple has done something good here, even if it is eye-wateringly expensive.
Foldable phones have always been a great idea in theory; the reality has often fallen far short. The early days were marred by screens that peeled or a less than stellar multitasking experience. Later models struggled to find the perfect size that would make the folded version as good as a standard smartphone for everyday tasks while accommodating a folding screen without making the whole thing too thick.
The iPhone Duo manages to neatly sidestep that problem. At less than half an inch thick when closed, the phone is not far off the iPhone 18 Pro, which comes in at 0.34 inches. It weighs in at 254 grams, a little heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro’s 211 grams.
The closest comparison is with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, a passport-sized folding phone that manages to bridge the gap between the phone that people want and the one they can actually use.
The nano texture on the inner display certainly disguises the crease, especially when content is on the screen, although nothing can eliminate it entirely. The crease is far less visible than anything I’ve seen on any other foldable phone, and it will be interesting to see how that holds up over the course of a year or two with the product.
It supports Apple Pencil too – the USB C version – so you can use it to take notes, draw or just as a smart stylus.
But there are downsides. The main sacrifice comes with the camera, which only has the wide and ultrawide lens, leaving the telephoto lens out. If you are coming from the standard iPhone, that will not be a big issue as the more powerful telephoto lens has been primarily on the iPhone’s Pro models.
The front-facing camera is only 12 megapixels instead of the 18 that we have come to expect, although it retains the centre stage capabilities that keep you in the middle of the frame. The downgrade is small, admittedly; you also get the under-display FaceTime camera on the inner display, which is only really useful for video calls and is of much lower quality.
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Apple has built in extras for the camera such as KidCue – similar to Google’s Made You Look feature – that displays an animation of Snoopy on the outer screen when you are using the camera with the display folded out to keep a child’s attention. There is also Smart Take, which will detect when everyone is looking at the camera and then snap a shot.
But the camera doesn’t use the inner display to its fullest, sticking with the same layout as every other iPhone despite the extra screen real estate. And the Duo lacks some of the more advanced features of the 18 Pro, including the ability to shoot RAW format and the pro controls.
So the Duo gives, and the Duo takes away. Multitasking with some apps works well, pinning two apps side by side. But there are others that would do well from a redesign to take advantage of the extra space that the Duo offers, either in how they are displayed (Gmail) or just simply by making them fit the screen and ditch the black bars (Duolingo).
You can get around this a bit by using multitasking, where you have an app open in each half of the Duo’s folded out display. For example, I like to have Google Docs and Safari open side by side. Once I open Docs and drag it to one side of the screen, I can open Safari in Split View, and the phone will remember that pairing for as long as I need it to.
What you also don’t get is FaceID; the iPhone Duo uses TouchID instead to log you in to websites or unlock payments. Again, not a huge deal, but when you have been used to the seamless Face ID process, TouchID is a bit of a throwback.
Some of these issues can be resolved with software updated, including the app support, the decision for which rests with the developers. But it makes using the phone a little less pleasant.
Good
When it comes to design, the iPhone Duo is almost perfect. Closed it is the ideal size for one-handed use; open you get almost as much space as an iPad Mini.
Battery life was better than I expected, with the batteries in both sides of the fold giving me most of a day out of the device while using the outer display for most tasks. That inner display can really suck up the battery, though.
Multitasking is very useful. I can run two apps side by side, and the Duo will remember the app pairing for the future.
Bad
The front display looks great but when it comes to apps, there is a lot of wasted space. There are a lot of apps that don’t make full use of the iPhone Duo’s larger inner screen, including its own camera app. Think thick black bars everywhere.
You can’t mention the downsides without talking about the price. At almost €2,400, the iPhone Duo is out of reach of many consumers. Even with a contract, you are talking about a sizeable investment.
Everything else
The under-screen camera is fine, but should only be used for video calling. And invest in a good case, which should also help with the impact of the camera bump on the back of the phone.
Verdict
As a first attempt at a folding phone, Apple has learned from the mistakes of its rivals. The good outweighs a few flaws, but the price will be a stumbling block for most would-be Duo owners.
