A week with iPhone Duo: Folding refined, if not perfected

Folding done the Apple way

Like most first-gen Apple products, build quality is where the iPhone Duo shines brightest. Its titanium frame feels more than sturdy enough for daily use, and with an IP68 rating for dust and water, only the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold matches its level of protection among foldables. The hinge is stiff in a re***uring way, so you can leave the Duo partly open at almost any angle, whether that’s tented on a desk, propped up at a 90-degree angle, or somewhere in between, and it has a satisfying snap when you close it.

Folded, the Duo has a p***port-sized footprint, making it compact enough to slide neatly into a pocket. It’s a touch shorter than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and rather than following Samsung’s symmetrical approach, Apple has given the Duo rounded corners on one edge and square ones on the other, similar to the Xiaomi 18 Fold. I wasn’t convinced by the design at first, but it has grown on me over the last week. I’ve also found the curved side easier to hold when the phone is closed, and once unfolded, it resembles a mini iPad mini, which makes it clear why Apple chose the asymmetrical look. At 254g, the Duo is weighty, but I haven’t found it too heavy, and when open, the weight feels surprisingly well balanced.

Face ID is the most notable omission, and anyone who’s used a newer iPhone in the last few years will notice. In its place is a Touch ID fingerprint reader built into the side button, an approach borrowed from the iPad, and it unlocks reliably whether open or closed. After years of simply glancing at my iPhone, however, even a quick task like resting a finger on the power button feels sluggish by comparison, and more than once I’ve instinctively lifted the Duo toward my face and waited for it to unlock. Apple Watch owners can rely on their wrist to unlock the Duo, which softens the blow somewhat, but that doesn’t help with p***words or Apple Pay purchases. 

Apple also dropped the Action button for the Duo, and shifted the volume keys to the top edge of the device, which I found (and still find) awkward. Neither the missing Action button nor the volume button placement is likely to be a dealbreaker, but if you use the Action button like I do, it’s something to consider.

A matte display that hides the crease

The two screens on the Duo are both excellent with ample brightness, smooth scrolling, and plenty of punch. The 5.4-inch outer display is compact and comfortable to use one-handed, with dimensions that will remind long-time iPhone users of the cute 13 mini, albeit broader and chunkier. Open the Duo, and you get a 7.6-inch inner panel with a glare-free matte finish, the feature I loved most when I first saw the Duo and still appreciate after a week of use.

Matte coatings aren’t new to Apple hardware, but this is the first time they’ve appeared on an iPhone, and they make a huge difference to the device’s overall feel. Glare is kept to a minimum, and the crease only really shows when light catches it, or you run your finger across it – something that can’t be said for other folding phones. The surface feels smoother under your finger than the glossy displays on rival foldables, too. The trade-off is reduced contrast, so darker scenes lose some depth, and smudges are easier to spot. Sadly, the box also doesn’t include a Polishing Cloth, which is standard when you upgrade to nano-texture finish on other devices.