š± iPhone Duo after a few days of use
Iām not an influencer or a YouTuber, and Apple isnāt paying me. Iām just a regular user, like thousands of others, rediscovering the excitement of tech. I havenāt felt this excited about a real change in the iPhone experience since the iPhone X.
First impressions
Iāve never been a big fan of foldable phones. The width, the crease, the form factor, the durability⦠They never really appealed to me, and I was pretty sceptical about the Duo. But once I had it in my hands, I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, it still has its pros and cons.
Format
What Iāve enjoyed most is the folded size, but especially how much room you get when you open it. Iāve always had an iPhone and occasionally bought an iPad. My latest is an Air 4, which everyone uses at home, so it doesnāt feel particularly personal anymore. I also had an iPad mini but sold it after a few months because I wasnāt using it enough.
The Duo feels different: itās my phone, and whenever I need more space, I can just unfold it. Watching a video while chatting on Telegram is such a pleasure.
Display
The inner display has been a lovely surprise. I wasnāt expecting it to look or feel this good. The nano-textured finish really cuts down reflections, and after a few days of watching videos and looking at images, my eyes have completely adjusted to it.
As for the circular cutout around the camera, you really do stop noticing it. Youāll obviously see it in direct sunlight, but once youāre focused on the content, it pretty much disappears.
Sound
The sound is decent, although it doesnāt match the iPhone 17 Pro. Itās a little less detailed and has less bass, but itās more than enough for everyday content. I donāt need a home cinema in my pocket.
Camera
Iām a designer and love taking product and nature photos. The camera doesnāt match the Pro or a dedicated camera, but Iād say its 48MP sensor is enough for 90% of people. Appleās post-processing helps improve the final image, too.
For family photos, itās more than enough. For night photography, though, donāt expect anything exceptional. Thatās definitely not its strongest point.
Weight
Yes, you feel it, especially when itās folded. Once unfolded, the weight is spread out and feels more manageable, particularly when holding it with both hands, which is how I usually use it.
But during longer sessions of browsing, gaming, or messaging, I do start to notice it. The weight gives it a substantial, premium feel, but thereās a trade-off in comfort over time.
Design
I went for the dark finish. Iāve seen plenty of comments about fingerprints, but I havenāt noticed many on mine. I guess it depends on how you use it.
The shape is a little unusual, with straight corners on the left and rounded ones on the right. The UI has to accommodate that, which isnāt particularly bothersome, although the extra spacing on the right creates some visible asymmetry.
App compatibility
Quite a few apps arenāt fully adapted to the Duo yet, and some donāt look great on the larger screen. I expect things to improve as updates arrive on the App Store. Iām still waiting for my own
@nachozapp update to be approved š
I wouldāve loved to jump straight into games that take full advantage of the unfolded display for a more immersive experience, but I think itās only a matter of time.
Comfort and grip
It feels nice in the hand, and the materials are smooth to the touch. I have large hands, and my index finger naturally rests in the recessed area beneath the camera, which makes it comfortable to hold.
My little finger is another story: it ends up supporting the bottom edge, and that gets uncomfortable after a while.
Crease
The crease is only really noticeable to me when the light hits it at a certain angle, particularly in dark mode, and very slightly in light mode. When youāre looking straight at the screen, you honestly stop paying attention to it.
Opening the phone
Iām still very careful when opening it. I use the bottom of the frame rather than pressing my thumbs against the screen. Knowing there are several thin layers underneath makes me cautious about applying pressure.
Touch ID
Touch ID feels like a bit of a step backwards for me. Iām so used to Face ID, especially when my hands are dirty or I just want to check a notification without touching the phone.
It took some getting used to, but registering several fingers based on how I hold it has helped. Setting up Apple Watch unlocking is another option.
Battery life
The battery is still brand new, so itās too early to judge properly. So far, though, itās holding up very well with my mix of design, development, films, and messaging. Weāll see how that changes over time.
Who itās for
If youāre looking for a different experience, love consuming content, and enjoy smaller tablet formats, I think the Duo could be for you. Especially if, like me, youāve bought an iPad only to leave it sitting on a desk after a few months.
The main obstacles are availability and, above all, the price. It definitely doesnāt come cheap.