Apple has finally joined the foldable phone party with the iPhone Duo. The passport-sized device will arrive in mid-October, with a starting price of $1,999 (or £1,999 for those on this side of the pond).
Although this is punchy (put politely, when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is £400 cheaper and equally sweet in its format), here are some reasons why the iPhone Duo could justify its cost, after seeing it in the flesh at Apple’s September event last week.
The screen solves a big foldable phone problem
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
Every folding phone before the Apple iPhone Duo suffered from the same problem: glossy, plastic inner displays that feel much cheaper than their prices suggest, show every fingerprint and reflect at every opportunity.
But the iPhone Duo borrows the nano-textured matte coating of the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro for the internal panel, and the difference is night and day.
Reflections are dramatically reduced, spots are much less visible, and the crease in the middle all but disappears under normal lighting – something even excellent rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 have still not managed.
The software doesn’t feel like an afterthought
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
Many flip phones treat the external screen and the internal display as two separate experiences that are merged together. Apple’s approach with the iPhone Duo is significantly smoother and more fluid, resulting in a much more polished interface.
Whoever designed the animation that flows between the inner and outer display deserves a raise. But more than that, content moves seamlessly between the 5.4-inch outer display and the 7.6-inch inner screen.
The keyboard adjusts to whatever orientation you’re holding the Duo in (even when they’re half-folded), and there are plenty of tricks to keep the phone up, too, from playback controls to careful reflections while watching Netflix.
Multitasking also works properly, with side-by-side apps you can pin together as a pair to reopen later, which does a great trick.
The build quality feels like a premium device
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
At just 5.2mm thick when unfolded, the iPhone Duo could easily have felt flimsy. Instead, my early impressions were of a reassuringly solid titanium frame and great weight distribution. It’s also a nice, pocketable format that’s a pleasure to use both folded and unfolded.
There is also an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, also a feature previously only offered by the Google Pixel Pro Fold in this category. It means you won’t be wrapping cotton around the duo when you’re out drinking or hitting the beach.
There are some clever camera tricks
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
The Duo’s camera department has some compromises: it drops to two rear cameras instead of three, like on the iPhone 18 Pro models, and it doesn’t have a dedicated telephoto lens or variable aperture. However, like many folding phones, Apple has also leaned on features that are unique to having two screens.
The first is a live preview on the cover display, so your subject can see the shot you’re taking and pose accordingly – similar to what you’ll find on other flip phones, like Samsung’s. But the second one is my favorite.
Kid Cue jumping Snoopy on the cover display to win over everyone who hesitates to smile when you take their picture. There’s also an AI-driven Smart Take mode that triggers a burst of shots and automatically selects the best-timed frame.
There is not one, but two, dynamic islands
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
Along with the camera, there are some other compromises in the iPhone Duo. One is Touch ID instead of Face ID, and the other is the absence of an action button.
Despite the lack of Face ID, Apple has carried Dynamic Island – the feature that originally launched on the iPhone 14 Pro back in 2022 – across both external and internal displays, offering quick access to music, timers and live activities no matter which screen you’re using.
On its own, Dynamic Island can’t justify the $2,000/£2,000 price tag, but pair it with the great software, premium design, and matte internal display, and you’ve got a foldable that’s worth your attention.