Apple's iPhone Duo launches with foldable design, mixed early reviews

Apple has released the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, marking a significant departure from the company's traditional phone design. The device features a passport-sized form factor with a 5.4-inch outer cover display and a 7.6-inch inner matte display, powered by the A20 Pro chip and running iOS 27. The inner display uses a nano-texture matte coating designed to reduce glare and minimize the appearance of the display crease, while the outer display is glossy. The device carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and includes an under-display FaceTime camera on the inner screen.

Early reviews reveal a device that excels in some areas while presenting notable compromises. CNET awarded the iPhone Duo an Editors' Choice Award, praising its intuitive hardware-software integration, passport-like portability, and matte inner display quality. However, critics including John Gruber of Daring Fireball note significant trade-offs: the outer display is cramped for typical phone use, the device lacks Face ID, lacks a telephoto camera, and multitasking on the inner screen is limited to landscape mode without resizing. The Verge characterized the Duo as "messy" and "risky," noting it runs hot and is heavier than standard phones, though it appeals to early adopters and gadget enthusiasts.

Pricing starts at $1,999 for 256GB storage, rising to $3,199 for 2TB—comparable to competitors like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 at $1,900 and Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold at $1,899. The device sold out rapidly when preorders opened. Developers have begun optimizing apps for the Duo's dual-display design, with Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+, Apple TV, MLB, and PGA Tour creating tailored experiences that leverage the larger inner screen for streaming, gaming, and productivity. Split View multitasking and proportional app scaling across displays are key software features enabling these new experiences.