iPhone Duo pre-orders start on October 16, so it’s only a matter of days before you can buy Apple’s first foldable phone. But if you’re on the fence about whether this device is worth $2,000, there are some pretty strong reasons to be an early adopter.
I’ve already covered – and ranked – all the biggest iPhone Duo trade-offs, and it’s generated a pretty big response on YouTube in particular. But for now, let’s look past things like the lack of a telephoto camera and Face ID, or the heavier weight versus the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Here are the biggest reasons to get the iPhone Duo.
Look up
1. Two devices in one (9/10)
The iPhone Duo is essentially a compact phone and tablet in one device. The 5.4-inch cover display is small enough to use with one hand but wide enough to comfortably type with two hands.
But the biggest reason to get the iPhone Duo is the 7.6-inch main display, which enables a much more immersive experience, whether you’re watching movies or shows, playing games, or running two apps side by side.
The wide aspect ratio is great for binge watching or reviewing spreadsheets, but flipping the device into portrait mode gives you a higher ratio for doing things like surfing the web or reading eBooks.
2. Really Optimized Apps (8.5/10)
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(Image credit: Apple)
During Apple’s September event, Apple made a point of showing off apps that are truly optimized for a foldable experience. This includes Slack with a dual-pane layout, as well as Zoom for video calls. Slack on Android phones still looks like a bloated phone app.
The Netflix app also looks smooth on both the cover display and the iPhone Duo’s main display with an immersive viewing experience, and a laptop-like mode for when you want to watch shows while doing other things.
Based on all the work Apple has done with developers behind the scenes, I’m pretty confident there will be plenty of great third-party iPhone Duo apps on day one.
3. Ultra durable (8/10)
The iPhone Duo has a durability rating of IP68, which means it’s waterproof but also dustproof. Samsung’s latest foldables are only waterproof. So you definitely don’t want to bring the Fold 8 or Fold 8 Ultra to the beach.
In addition, the iPhone Duo has a grade 5 titanium frame and hinge cover, which is more durable than aluminum. Plus there’s a scratch-resistant coating on the inner display and ceramic shield on the front and back.
4. Side-by-side multitasking – finally! (7.5/10)
It’s over, but the iPhone Duo is the first iPhone that lets you run apps side-by-side with Split View. And it’s super easy to launch a second app. You just swipe up the app icon and then place the app on the left or right side of the screen. Switching apps is just as intuitive; You simply swipe on the bottom bar to open the home screen.
As you might expect, you can easily drag and drop content from one window to another, such as adding a photo to a text message. You can even run two instances of the same app, like Safari. Just remember that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 can run three apps at once, plus floating windows on top.
5. Multiple modes (7/10)
Apple has really thought about the versatility of the iPhone Duo with use cases and offers different modes. For example, if you put the iPhone Duo with the display on, you’ll see a standby mode with a clock on the left and a digital photo frame on the left. Put the Duo in tent mode and it instantly turns into an alarm clock.
Basically, Apple has made the software intelligent enough to adjust based on the position of the device and the angle of the display. The iPhone Duo also has a laptop-like mode that allows you to make video calls more easily. And some apps display controls at the bottom and content at the top, such as Netflix.
It’s worth noting that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has similar flexibility with its Flex mode, but it doesn’t go as far as what Apple is doing here. And the regular Fold 8 has no flex mode at all.
6. Nano-textured display with less visible wrinkles (6.5/10)
This feature divides people even before the iPhone Duo is released, but on balance I think it’s a good thing. The nano-texture layer on the main display is made of a custom polymer that is 40% stiffer than other materials used on other folding bars. But it also significantly reduces shine. In fact, during my hands-on time, I noticed that the filling on the iPhone Duo was barely visible.
To be clear, you can still see the crab at certain angles, but when you’re viewing content, it’s almost gone. The trade-off is that some say the nano-texture coating makes the display less glossy and therefore less vibrant. We’ll see what happens when I test the duo.
7. Reimagined iOS for foldables (6/10)
Apple didn’t just slap iOS 27 on the iPhone Duo and call it a day. It has redesigned the OS so that it fits better with the foldable design. For example, everything from the lock screen controls and the dock on the home screen to app navigation now appear on the right side to make more room for content.
Apple has also redesigned the status bar, which displays Wi-Fi and cell strength along with battery status in a more compact area. And with the multiple modes I mentioned earlier, iOS 27 adapts to the way the device is folded or when it’s turned on its side or upside down.
8. A20 Pro Performance with Steam Chamber (5/10)
The A20 Pro chip isn’t really a reason to buy the iPhone Duo, but it is the fastest chip we’ve ever tested in a phone based on our benchmark testing. So the iPhone Duo should be the fastest foldable phone on the market when it launches, at least until we see devices shipping with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.
Plus, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, the iPhone Duo has a vapor chamber for cooling. So Apple’s foldable should offer better sustained performance than other Android foldables sold in the US
9. New ways to take photos (4.5/10)
For me, it doesn’t make up for the lack of a telephoto zoom, but it’s nice that the iPhone Duo gives you new ways to take pictures versus the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. With Smart Take, for example, you can hold up the iPhone Duo and it will automatically take photos as the subjects pose in the frame.
With Duo Preview, you can show live previews of what you’re shooting on the external screen, so others can help make sure they look their best before pressing the shutter. Plus, just like other foldables, you can take a selfie with the higher resolution 48MP rear camera.
Bottom line
The iPhone Duo is definitely not for everyone at $2,000. But at least now you have a better sense of why you might want to consider one. I get the feeling that many people are pre-ordering simply because this is Apple’s first foldable, but it’s clear that they’ve really thought through everything from the design and software to the durability and app experiences. Stay tuned to get my full iPhone Duo review for all the pros and cons.