It’s been almost 10 years since Apple released the iPhone X, which ushered in a new era of design for the company’s flagship phones. Today, Apple is once again venturing into uncharted territory with the iPhone Duo, which might just be the company’s most interesting new phone (or gadget in general) in nearly a decade.
Featuring an external 5.4-inch OLED display as well as an even larger 7.6-inch flexible OLED panel inside, the iPhone Duo reminds me a lot of the original Pixel Fold, except Apple has further refined its chassis. The sides of the phone have nice rounded edges that make it very easy to open and the transition animation that plays when you go from the outer screen to the main inner panel is a work of art. It’s virtually seamless, while subtle gradient and depth-of-field effects help sell the magic of Apple’s first foldable device.
That said, despite a beautifully crafted titanium frame that offers IP68 dust and water resistance, the Duo is rather heavy. At 11.3 mm (closed) and 254 grams, Apple’s Fold is significantly heavier and thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 (201 grams and 9.7 mm closed). I really wanted to post side-by-side comparisons between the iPhone Duo and the Z Fold 8 and the original Pixel Fold to really highlight some of their design differences, but Apple reps asked me not to.
On the outside, the Duo has a full set of buttons, including a lock key with integrated TouchID, a dedicated camera control, and a volume rocker. At first I thought placing the volume rocker on the top of the phone was an interesting choice, but it makes a lot of sense, especially for anyone who frequently switches between portrait and landscape modes. Another subtle feature of the Duo is that it’s really good at detecting when it’s open and to what extent. It supports tent and table modes, the former allowing the Duo to transform into a sophisticated clock or standalone calendar. That said, you can also use the phone when it’s only partially folded, which I imagine will be very nice for reading ebooks. And as for the move from FaceID to TouchID on the Duo, as someone who has used other foldables with side-mounted fingerprint sensors, I think it remains the superior solution for quickly unlocking the phone, making purchases, and much more.
Sam Rutherford for Woozad
Inside, the Duo features a heavy nano matte texture on its beautiful main display that serves several different purposes. In addition to almost completely eliminating annoying reflections, it also perfectly hides the Duo’s crease. Yes, there is one, but I have to say that the divot that runs down the middle of the center is very faint, to the point that it is often easier to feel it with your finger than to observe it with your eyes. However, one of my favorite little features on the Duo is Apple’s inclusion of an under-screen FaceTime camera sensor that almost disappears entirely when not in use.
This is something Samsung experimented with as far back as 2021 on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. However, in recent years Apple’s Korean rival seems to have abandoned this technology, so seeing it here on the Duo is not only a notable technical feat, it’s also bragging rights for the latest foldable on the block. It’s only really noticeable when you look closely and notice that the circular group of pixels above the camera below the screen is glossy instead of matte like the rest of the main screen.
Sam Rutherford for Woozad
Finally, while the Duo’s exterior screen is glossy, its matte interior should also help make pen input truly natural, as the phone supports the Apple Pencil on both of its displays. Unfortunately, Apple didn’t have an Apple Pencil on hand in its demo area, so I haven’t been able to properly test it yet.
On the back, Apple has given the Duo two rear cameras: a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera that can also capture 2x telephoto shots at 12 MP, plus a 48 MP ultra-wide. In a vacuum, it’s a nice piece of kit that takes sharp photos in a variety of lighting conditions. Sure, it doesn’t have the variable aperture controls you get on the iPhone 18 Pro line, but that’s okay. My biggest gripe is that I really want a longer, dedicated zoom lens than you get on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. At least by creating a module on the back that spans the entire width of the phone’s rear panel, the Duo sits perfectly on a table without rocking or wobbling, which is the kind of attention to detail I appreciate.
Sam Rutherford for Woozad
But perhaps the Duo’s most impressive feature is the smoothness and refinement of its software. It’s the crucial piece of Apple magic that makes it easier to understand why the company waited so long to make its first foldable phone. Multitasking is a breeze and can be accomplished in multiple ways. You can long-press an app icon before selecting the split-screen option. You can also swipe up from the bottom of the screen and then swipe apps left or right. From there, you can easily do things like drag and drop photos and files from one app to another. You can also hold the small tab in the middle of the split-screen view to create dedicated app pairs, for faster multitasking in the future. iPhone Duo delivers many of the productivity features people love about iPadOS, but in a device that’s even easier to carry and use.
Sam Rutherford for Woozad
For its first foldable phone, Apple smartly selected a litany of its competitors’ best features and software tools, then packaged it into a sleek handset that is unmistakably Apple. It comes with IP68 dust and water resistance, just like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. It has a gorgeous main panel with an under-screen camera and a nice matte finish that’s even less reflective than what you get on a Z Fold 8. And its software feels like it has a level of polish and integration that Samsung, Google, and Motorola haven’t really matched on Android. And did I mention that the iPhone Duo costs $100 less than a Z Fold Ultra (but $100 more than the Z Fold 8)? It’s a really compelling package. For iPhone fans who have been jealous of all the foldables available on the other side of the mobile OS divide, while the Duo may be a little behind the times, it can easily hang with the best of them.
The iPhone Duo is available for pre-order starting October 16 at 8 a.m. ET, with official sales scheduled for October 23.
