iPhone Duo Review: Apple's First Foldable Is Impressive, but Not Without Problems

Apple has finally entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, bringing a new design that combines the convenience of a traditional iPhone with the larger display of a small tablet. After years of waiting, Apple's first foldable phone is now attracting attention for its premium construction, impressive screen and powerful performance.

However, the iPhone Duo is not perfect. Although its innovative design makes it difficult to put down, some unusual design decisions, software limitations and missing features make it harder to recommend without hesitation.

The biggest question is whether Apple's first foldable iPhone offers enough advantages to justify its premium price.

iPhone Duo Design: A Premium Foldable With a Different Feel

The iPhone Duo introduces a book-style folding design that transforms a compact smartphone into a much larger device.

When closed, users can handle it like a conventional iPhone. Opening it reveals a spacious inner display designed for watching videos, browsing websites, reading and multitasking.

Apple has also focused heavily on the phone's physical construction. Its titanium frame gives the device a premium appearance, while the hinge allows users to open and close the phone smoothly.

The overall design feels like a combination of an iPhone and a compact tablet.

However, the unusual shape takes some getting used to. Users familiar with regular iPhones may need time to adjust to the different button positions and the way the phone feels when folded or unfolded.

The 7.6-Inch OLED Display Is the Biggest Highlight

The iPhone Duo's internal display is arguably its most impressive feature.

Apple has equipped the device with a 7.6-inch LTPO OLED panel featuring a nano-texture matte finish. This larger screen makes everyday activities such as watching movies, viewing photographs and browsing much more enjoyable.

The matte coating also helps reduce reflections and glare, particularly when using the phone in bright environments.

Another noticeable improvement is the relatively subtle crease running through the middle of the folding display.

Although the crease has not completely disappeared, it is less distracting than many users might expect from a foldable smartphone.

The display also supports Apple Pencil input, adding another useful option for drawing, writing and taking notes.

There are some compromises, however. The matte finish can reduce contrast and color vibrancy compared with traditional glossy displays. Fingerprint marks and smudges can also be more difficult to clean.

Touch ID Replaces Face ID

One of the more controversial decisions Apple made with the iPhone Duo is removing Face ID.

Instead, the company has brought back Touch ID through a fingerprint sensor integrated into the phone's side-mounted power button.

This approach helps Apple maintain a cleaner display design without requiring the additional sensors normally associated with Face ID.

Touch ID works for unlocking the phone, authorizing Apple Pay transactions and confirming app downloads.

However, users accustomed to Face ID may find the experience less convenient.

You need to position your finger correctly on the sensor, and unlocking can feel slightly slower than simply looking at your iPhone.

The placement of the physical buttons also takes some adjustment. The volume controls are positioned along the top edge, which can make them awkward to reach depending on how the phone is being held.

Accidentally pressing the power button instead of the volume controls can also become frustrating.

Foldable Display Makes Multitasking More Convenient

A major advantage of the iPhone Duo is the extra screen space available when the device is unfolded.

Users can run supported applications side by side, making it easier to handle multiple tasks without constantly switching between apps.

For example, you can keep an email application open alongside your calendar or browse the web while checking messages.

Apple has also adapted parts of iOS 27 to make better use of the larger display.

Some built-in applications feature redesigned layouts that take advantage of the additional screen space.

However, third-party app support remains an important challenge.

Not every developer has optimized their application for the foldable design. As a result, some apps may display unused space or fail to make proper use of the larger screen.

This is particularly noticeable when switching between applications designed for traditional smartphones and those updated for foldable displays.

Performance and Everyday Experience

The iPhone Duo is designed to deliver the performance expected from Apple's premium smartphone lineup.

Its powerful hardware makes everyday activities, demanding applications and multitasking feel responsive.

The larger display also creates new possibilities for gaming and entertainment.

However, hardware performance is only part of the experience. Software optimization will play an equally important role in determining how useful the foldable design becomes.

As more developers update their applications, the overall experience could improve considerably.

For now, buyers should understand that some applications may not deliver the same polished experience found on conventional iPhones.

Is the iPhone Duo Worth Its Premium Price?

The iPhone Duo offers something different from Apple's traditional smartphone lineup.

Its folding display provides additional flexibility, while the premium construction and redesigned software create an interesting new user experience.

However, there are several compromises to consider before buying it.

The return of Touch ID instead of Face ID may disappoint longtime iPhone users. The matte display has some limitations, and third-party app compatibility still needs improvement.

The device also lacks the simplicity and familiarity of a regular iPhone.

For people who regularly watch videos, read, browse websites or multitask on their phones, the larger internal display could be a significant advantage.

On the other hand, users who primarily make calls, send messages and take photographs may not find enough value in the folding design to justify the extra expense.

Final Verdict: An Exciting First Step for Apple's Foldable Future

The iPhone Duo demonstrates what Apple can achieve when it combines its hardware design experience with a completely different smartphone form factor.

Its large matte OLED display, premium titanium construction and flexible design make it an interesting alternative to traditional smartphones.

Nevertheless, the missing Face ID, awkward button placement, display compromises and incomplete third-party app optimization prevent it from being a flawless experience.

Apple's first foldable is an impressive product, but it also feels like a device that could become significantly better with future generations.

For now, the iPhone Duo is most appealing to people who genuinely want a foldable iPhone and are comfortable accepting some first-generation compromises.