A reporter took two iPhones on vacation and kept the new Duo

A TechCrunch reporter took the new iPhone Duo on a five-day vacation, along with an iPhone 17 Pro Max as a backup. The plan was to switch back to the old phone. Instead, the Duo got most of the use, and by the end of the trip the reporter did not want to go back. Apple lent the Duo for the test. It costs about $2,000.

A tough phone

The Duo is short and squat, not thin and rectangular like other iPhones. The reporter worried it would not fit in a pocket. It fit in front and back pockets, even with a case on.

It also took abuse. The reporter sat on it countless times while it was in a back pocket, and it did not break. It was dropped at least three times, twice from about table height and once off the side of a bed. The floors were concrete, tile and wood. The screen never cracked. The reporter notes these were accidents, not professional drop tests.

Where it got annoying

Daily use had rough spots. The small outer screen meant more scrolling to read back through text threads. Apps that were not built for the Duo sometimes hid key features in a three-dot "more" menu, which meant a hunt for the right option.

The biggest software problem was the Google Search app, which froze several times. The reporter links it to the app's AI Mode, which users are often dropped into without asking. Tapping the back button did nothing. Force-closing the app fixed it, though the reporter says that is Google's problem, not Apple's.

Apps not made for the Duo

Many apps had not been redesigned for the Duo at launch. They show a black bar on the side, which shrinks the already small screen when the phone is closed. The reporter calls this more ugly than broken. Google Maps had not been updated during the trip, yet it worked fine for driving directions, searching places and planning routes.

Companies have been releasing Duo updates fairly quickly, but the reporter says more than a few apps still have not been updated.

The Touch ID problem

The Duo uses Touch ID, a fingerprint sensor, instead of Face ID, which unlocks the phone by looking at it. The reporter calls this the phone's biggest drawback, bigger than the screen or camera.

Unlocking was not an issue, because the reporter nearly always wears an Apple Watch, which can serve as another way to confirm identity. Apps and Apple Pay were harder. Paying with a tap is clumsy when your hands are full, and the reporter was holding shopping bags, a purse and a dog leash.

What is not covered

The reporter mentions camera concerns that led to carrying two phones, but the article does not explain what those concerns were. It also does not say when every major app will be updated for the Duo.