Apple's $2,000 foldable iPhone Duo wins praise for its size and screen, but weak app support and Touch ID are drawbacks, and orders are backed up into next year.
A Tom's Guide writer spent a day with the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone, and came away impressed but frustrated. It starts at $2,000, and orders are backed up into next year. The biggest problems are apps that do not fill the big screen yet and the loss of Face ID.
Folded, the Duo has a 5.4-inch outer screen. That is small enough for one-handed calls, messages, social media and photos. The writer compared the feel to the iPhone 13 mini, a past favorite. Unfolded, the screen grows to 7.6 inches. It has a nano-texture finish and a rectangular shape with rounded corners. The writer found it well suited to reading a novel in a coffee shop and preferred it to the square screens on some Android foldables.
Many apps are not yet built for the larger screen. They show a thick black bar on the right side when the phone is opened, much like early iPad apps did. Apple has added a "Made for iPhone Duo" badge for apps that are ready. The writer singled out Wikipedia and Google's apps as big names that need to catch up.
On Touch ID, the writer found that swiping up from the lock screen while touching the sensor unlocks the phone a little faster. The pause is meant to confirm that you really meant to unlock it. Still, the writer called losing Face ID a real bummer.
There has been some backlash over screen problems with the Duo. The writer reports no screen cracks, hinge failures, or dust and water getting in so far. Reviewers have praised Apple's focus on durability. Even so, the writer handles the phone carefully and uses the standard iPhone Duo MagSafe case for extra protection.
The writer sees a silver lining in the shipping delay. App makers get more time to update before the phone is easy to buy, so most of the black bar problem should be fixed by then. That is an expectation, not a promise from Apple or the app makers.
The writer also calls this a first-generation product. A second version, the writer expects, will be a far better buy, and the writer hopes it brings back Face ID. Whether Apple has such a model planned is not stated.
If the $2,000 Duo tempts you, the shipping wait may help, since more apps should be updated for the big screen before you can get one.
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