iPhone Duo review: fun to play with and cool matte inner display, but small cover display, heavier and bulkier than other phones, average cameras, and gets hot

Apple's foldable phone is heavier, bulkier, and has a small cover screen, requiring a new way to use apps and interact with the device.

Apple's iPhone Duo introduces a novel passport-like foldable design with a wider aspect ratio for its 7.6-inch inner matte display and a 5.4-inch glossy outer display. This form factor deviates from the prevailing tall-and-narrow foldable trend, aiming to enhance media consumption with its 16:9 inner screen compatibility. The device features a unique matte texture on the inner display to minimize crease visibility, a notable improvement over competitors. However, the Duo is described as heavier and bulkier than other phones, with a small cover display that struggles with vertically oriented apps. Unlocking relies solely on side-mounted Touch ID, as Face ID is absent. The overall user experience requires adaptation, including reorienting to button placement and app layouts, and the phone is noted to get hot during use.

Apple's decision to adopt a wider aspect ratio for the iPhone Duo signals a potential shift in foldable phone design, moving away from the tall-and-narrow standard. This move, which other manufacturers seem to be anticipating, presents new challenges for optimizing cover screen usability with vertically oriented apps. The innovative matte texture on the inner display addresses a common concern with foldables by effectively concealing the screen crease, setting a new benchmark for display quality in this category.

The iPhone Duo's design necessitates a significant user adjustment, particularly in how applications are used on both the compact cover screen and the wider inner display. The heavy reliance on portrait-mode app design for most iPhone applications creates an awkward experience when unfolded, pushing users towards landscape tablet mode. This design choice, coupled with the absence of Face ID in favor of a side-mounted Touch ID, suggests a product catering to early adopters rather than mainstream users seeking seamless integration with existing iOS paradigms.