iPhone Duo Review: Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s First Foldable Phone

Since the launch of the first iPhone nearly two decades ago, Apple’s design philosophy has not undergone a transformation as radical as the one we are witnessing today with the iPhone Duo. It is a device that breaks the traditional mold we have been accustomed to for many years; it is not just a smartphone with a familiar glass rectangle, but an innovation that combines the size of a small pocket notebook when closed with a full-fledged iPad screen once opened. Its dimensions may seem unfamiliar at first glance, but behind this structure lies precise engineering that has completely changed how we interact with Apple devices. Here is the comprehensive and detailed review of the first foldable phone offered by the company.

Design and Engineering: A Pocket Notebook That Transforms Into a Tablet

The iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams, making it only five grams heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the fundamental difference lies in the weight distribution. The phone is shorter and wider; it is 117.8 mm tall and 84.1 mm wide, making it 45.6 mm shorter than the 18 Pro Max model. This compact structure gives it exceptional stability in the palm of the hand and allows it to fit into a pocket with unexpected ease compared to typical tall phones.

In terms of thickness, the device is 11.3 mm thick when folded, which is about 29% thicker than Pro phones, but once unfolded, the thickness drops to just 5.2 mm, making it even thinner than the iPhone Air. The frame is made of Grade 5 titanium with a polished, reflective finish, and it is available in two colors: Night Sky and Starlight, while maintaining the IP68 standard for water and dust resistance.

The phone relies on a mechanical hinge consisting of over 100 precision components, supported by a variable torque system that precisely adjusts resistance when opening and closing, alongside integrated magnets that secure the two sides together. Opening the phone requires both hands to ensure safety. The hinge also allows the screen to be fixed at multiple angles in “laptop” and “tent” modes, enabling content viewing, FaceTime calls, and the use of the upgraded StandBy feature without the need for any desk stand.

Displays: Nano-Texture and Minimizing the Crease

The external screen measures 5.4 inches with a 1.4:1 aspect ratio, providing a usable area equivalent to 90% of the iPhone 18 Pro screen thanks to its extra width. Using the external screen feels like handling a smart passport; it is very comfortable for typing, browsing menus with one hand, and replying quickly to messages, although browsing some websites in Safari may sometimes be affected by the limited vertical space and frequent pop-up ads.

The giant internal screen measures 7.6 inches, with an area 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max screen. The screen consists of over 10 layers of ultra-thin material, combining a nano-texture polymer that is 40% harder, and ultra-strong glass with a flexible adhesive that allows the layers to slide over each other like pages in a book when folded, supported by a titanium bottom plate.

To overcome the issue of the middle crease, Apple employed Nano-texture glass technology, which scatters reflected light instead of reflecting it like a mirror. As a result, the crease line becomes almost invisible when looking at the screen directly from the front and can only be noticed under strong sunlight and on dark backgrounds. Apple also made the outer layer of the screen replaceable at a reasonable cost in case of any damage.

Operating System, Performance, and Multitasking

The phone runs on iOS 27 with smart customizations that suit the nature of the two screens; the Dock and navigation menus have been moved to the right side of the interface for easy thumb access while holding the wide phone, with them automatically returning to the bottom when the phone is rotated to portrait mode.

The phone introduces the Split View feature for the first time on iPhones, allowing two apps to run side-by-side on the large screen, or opening two windows of the same app, in addition to the ability to pin videos to the top and use another app in the bottom section seamlessly.

The iPhone Duo is powered by the flagship A20 Pro processor with an advanced thermal architecture that includes a water vapor chamber and flexible graphite sheets to distribute heat across both halves. Regarding security, Apple replaced Face ID with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor integrated into the side button, which offers fast performance and supports the automatic unlocking feature via Apple Watch for easier access.

Cameras: Agile Hardware and Innovative Shooting Capabilities

To maintain the slimness of the structure, Apple did not equip the phone with the full Pro camera system, but instead relied on a 48MP main camera with an ƒ/1.6 aperture and a 48MP ultra-wide camera, without a dedicated optical zoom lens, relying on sensor-based digital zoom up to 2x.

In daily practical tests, the camera delivers high-clarity photos with excellent detail and realistic colors, with the iPhone 18 Pro having the edge thanks to the variable aperture and optical zoom. The following comparison photos illustrate the differences in light processing and contrast:

A shot summarizing the accuracy of the primary sensor in the iPhone Duo in natural lighting conditions, followed by a shot of the same scene via the iPhone 18 Pro:

There is a slight superiority for the iPhone 18 Pro in capturing shadow depth, while the iPhone Duo provides a clear and balanced image. Moving to the second comparison outdoors:

The distribution of light and colors in the iPhone Duo appears rich and easy on the eyes, compared to the corresponding iPhone 18 Pro shot below:

In close-up shots and fine details, the iPhone Duo sensor shows superior focus accuracy and processing speed:

And here is the iPhone 18 Pro’s processing of the same close-up element with natural optical bokeh:

As for the fourth shot of open landscapes, the digital processing in the iPhone Duo provides a wonderful balance in dynamic range:

The corresponding photo from the iPhone 18 Pro shows the level of professional processing in the advanced sensor:

The biggest strength of the iPhone Duo is the ability to open the device and use the external screen as a mirror to take high-resolution selfies using the 48MP rear camera, alongside the Duo Preview feature that shows the other party a live preview of themselves before taking the photo, and the Smart Take feature for automatic capture when everyone is positioned in the frame.

Battery, Charging, and Daily Usage Experience

The phone contains two independent batteries, one in each half, managed intelligently via custom silicon circuits to function as a single balanced power unit. This system ensures up to 44 hours of video playback on the external screen and 31 hours on the internal screen, or 24 hours of mixed usage, ensuring a full day of intensive work with about 20% remaining in the evening.

The device supports MagSafe chargers and desktop stands efficiently, although some accessories like wallets and power banks may protrude slightly from the bottom edge due to the short body of the phone. The phone is also equipped with the tactile Camera Control button, with the absence of the traditional Action button, and external speakers that provide excellent stereo sound, although slightly less deep compared to Pro models.

Final Verdict: Is the iPhone Duo Worth Buying?

The iPhone Duo represents Apple’s bold vision for the future of smartphones. It is not just a showpiece phone, but a productivity and entertainment tool that combines a compact phone and an iPad in one pocket without sacrificing build quality. With a price starting at $1,999, the device comes with some expected compromises for its first generation, such as the absence of a zoom lens and replacing Face ID with Touch ID, making it a choice for advanced tech enthusiasts who are ready to embark on a promising futuristic experience.

Source:

9to5mac.com