iPhone Duo Review: Design Ergonomics, App Compatibility, and Production Challenges

Andru Edwards contends that Apple's current laptop offerings are not overly confusing for the average consumer. He suggests that the perception of complexity is often exaggerated by tech enthusiasts. Edwards describes the lineup as a clear 'good, better, best' choice, which is then further differentiated by screen sizes.

According to Edwards, the available options include the MacBook Air in two sizes, the Neo in one size, and the MacBook Pro in two sizes. Mark Gurman notes that an upcoming 'Pro/Ultra' tier, which will feature OLED and touchscreens, is planned to sit above the current models.

Mark Gurman predicts that Apple's various MacBook Pro models, including the current high-end devices and the new touch-enabled OLED versions, will eventually converge into a single, unified Pro/Ultra tier. While acknowledging that this convergence will take several years, Gurman expresses confidence that it will happen.

Gurman elaborates that there are currently three tiers: the base 14-inch Pro with M6, the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros introduced in March, and the new ultra-tier MacBook Pro with touch and dynamic island features. He believes that the most confusing aspect of the current lineup is the distinction between non-Pro/Max chips and Pro/Max chips within the 14-inch line, especially given the existing MacBook Air with an M5 chip and the upcoming M6 chip.

Mark Gurman states that the iPhone mini line is unlikely to return, calling it an "abject failure" that Apple discontinued after two generations (the 12 mini and 13 mini). He attributes the device's creation to the vocal minority within the Apple Internet blogger community, arguing that these advocates for a mini device ultimately did not purchase it.

Gurman suggests that market demand has shifted decisively toward displays of six inches and larger, making a return to the 5.4-inch screen size improbable. He believes that consumers generally prefer the most expensive and feature-rich models with the largest screens and best cameras.

Andru Edwards supports this view, adding that current memory shortages have eliminated any potential price benefits that a smaller phone might have once offered.

Andru Edwards points out a notable "strangeness" in the iPhone Duo's hardware design, particularly its wider-than-average screen. This increased width, combined with the device's right-hand navigation, results in a user interface where centered content is actually pushed to the left, leaving more space to the right.

Edwards explains that this design choice creates an "unusable space" on the outer display due to an invisible line between apps and navigation. While he acknowledges that Apple intentionally made this decision for right-hand navigation, he observes that unoptimized apps often struggle with the layout, displaying nav bars at the bottom, which can feel cramped and less intuitive.

Despite initial impressions, Edwards believes the right-hand navigation makes sense once users adapt, especially when compared to how unoptimized apps present content.

Andru Edwards identifies three distinct tiers of app compatibility for the iPhone Duo. The first tier consists of non-optimized apps, which, when opened, look "terrible" and feature significant unused screen space, reminiscent of early iPad app experiences. While Apple provides options to enlarge these apps, it's described as a temporary fix, not a desirable long-term solution.

The second tier includes apps optimized for iOS 27 but not specifically for the iPhone Duo. These apps utilize resizing APIs to fill most of the inner screen, but they do not adopt the right-hand navigation unique to the Duo. The third and ideal tier comprises fully optimized apps, such as Apple Music, which leverage the entire display for a seamless experience on both inner and outer screens due to consistent aspect ratios.

Edwards stresses the urgent need for developers to update their popular apps, like YouTube and TikTok, for the iPhone Duo layout. Meta is noted as one of the few major developers that has already provided an optimized experience.

Andru Edwards expresses strong disappointment with the iPhone Duo's Touch ID system, particularly when compared to the Face ID technology users have experienced since the iPhone 10. He finds Touch ID to be less reliable and likens the transition from Face ID to Touch ID as "going back a decade" in usability.

Edwards notes that Touch ID, integrated into the power button, frequently fails to recognize fingerprints, unlike Face ID, which he describes as consistently working without issue. Mark Gurman speculates that technical constraints, such as the device's thinness and cost considerations, likely influenced Apple's decision to use Touch ID over the more expensive Face ID module.

Mark Gurman discloses that Apple is actively developing under-display Face ID technology. He states that prototypes for the iPhone Duo 2 already incorporate an under-display Face ID sensor and camera on the outer screen, indicating a significant step toward future biometric integration.

This development builds upon advancements seen in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, where components were further miniaturized and moved under the display, making the Dynamic Island smaller. Gurman anticipates that the current reliance on Touch ID will be rectified within the next two to three years as this new technology becomes ready for mass production.

Andru Edwards describes a new, almost "whimsical" learning curve for the iPhone Duo due to its various folding postures, such as 'tabletop' or 'tent' mode. Unlike traditional iPhones that are used statically in vertical or horizontal orientations, the Duo's dynamic capabilities require users to actively remember and explore different ways of interacting with the device.

Edwards notes that the software dynamically adjusts app layouts based on the hinge angle and orientation, presenting a multitude of options that previous iPhones could not. This necessitates a conscious effort from users to utilize the new features that developers have integrated to enhance their apps, moving beyond ingrained habits of slab phone usage.

Andru Edwards points out that the iPhone Duo's software is capable of reading the hinge angle to a remarkable degree, creating unique gaming opportunities. He cites a marble game where players tilt the phone to move a marble and must fold the device to specific angles, such as 90 or 100 degrees, to open in-game doors.

Another simple game requires users to open the device to a specified degree, with their accuracy being rated. Edwards emphasizes that the inner display is bright, vibrant, and surprisingly free of a noticeable crease, addressing initial concerns about foldable screens. These hinge-angle APIs allow for novel physical interactions that differentiate gaming on the iPhone Duo from any other Apple product.

Andru Edwards speculates that Apple's delay in providing him with an iPhone Duo review unit was linked to his 2019 review of the original Galaxy Fold. During that review, Edwards removed what appeared to be a screen protector, leading to the phone's destruction within 24 hours and a subsequent three-month delay for Samsung to redesign the device.

Mark Gurman recounts Samsung's prompt collection of Edwards's damaged review unit following the incident, which highlighted a significant engineering or marketing flaw. Edwards believes that the foldable category has matured considerably since then, with improved displays, paving the way for Apple's entry into the market. Samsung is now reportedly generating significant revenue from this category.

The discussion suggests that Apple has benefited from observing early challenges in the foldable market, allowing them to release a more robust product like the iPhone Duo, which Edwards indicates will hold up well based on his initial testing.

Andru Edwards highlights a new feature in iOS 27 called iPhone Handoff, which allows users to utilize a single phone number across two different iPhones. This functionality enables seamless switching between devices, such as using a foldable iPhone Duo and a separate Pro model for its superior camera.

Edwards suggests that this feature might be a strategic reason for the iPhone Duo's release now, as it caters to users who might want to own both a foldable and a high-end camera phone. Users can pay a monthly fee to their carriers (e.g., T-Mobile for five dollars or Verizon for ten dollars) to maintain dual-device connectivity.

Andru Edwards reports that the iPhone Duo's battery life, while not matching that of a Pro Max model, is notably superior to a standard iPhone Pro, lasting at least a couple of hours longer. He also specifies that the Duo's battery life surpasses that of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

During his review, Edwards mentioned that Siri's indexing process on his one-terabyte Duo, which had 600 gigabytes of data used, took five days to complete. Despite this, for general daily usage, he expressed no concerns about the battery life, even recounting an instance where he forgot his external battery for a concert but still found the Duo's charge sufficient.

Andru Edwards evaluates the iPhone Duo's overall impression, stating that it feels "really well baked in a lot of areas," particularly praising its software experience and chip performance. He highlights the device's IP68 water and dust resistance, a feature he notes that competitors like Samsung have not achieved even after eight generations of foldable phones.

However, Edwards points to the device's reliance on Touch ID instead of Face ID and the absence of a telephoto lens as significant shortcomings that make it feel like a first-generation product. Mark Gurman acknowledges that incorporating a telephoto lens is a "physics problem" that might require AI solutions, similar to how Google's Pixel improved zoom capabilities.

Both agree that Face ID and a telephoto lens are necessary future additions for the iPhone Duo.

Mark Gurman reveals that the iPhone Duo's pre-order process was a "disaster" due to extremely limited supply and a strategic misstep by Apple. Initially, Apple had planned to launch the device at the end of November in just two countries with high foldable phone demand: the US and China, with production numbers in the hundreds of units per day, significantly less than the tens of thousands for an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

However, to boost revenue for the holiday quarter and offset decelerating growth in its services division, Apple decided to move up the launch by a month and expand it to 70 countries simultaneously. This financial decision resulted in stores receiving only a few units each, leading to widespread customer frustration and long wait times. Gurman criticizes this approach, stating that Apple prioritized revenue numbers over customer experience.

Mark Gurman asserts that it is impossible for Apple to produce 6 million iPhone Duo units in 2026, comparing it to Samsung's annual production of 5 million foldables and Google's 1 million. He views any such projection as unrealistic given the current production challenges.

Andru Edwards suggests that Apple could have significantly improved product availability by delaying the launch by just three weeks. He believes this short delay would have allowed for a substantial increase in manufacturing, placing Apple in a much stronger position to meet initial demand. The discussion also touches upon the fact that these devices are currently only built in China, as India lacks the necessary production capabilities for such complex manufacturing.

Andru Edwards states his personal preference for not using protective cases on his iPhones, including foldable devices. He considers himself an "AppleCare guy," relying on Apple's service for potential issues rather than adding bulk to his phone with a case. This preference is particularly strong for foldable phones, which are inherently thicker, making any additional bulk undesirable.

Edwards also criticizes folio-style cases, even those with kickstands, because they require an extra step of opening a cover to access the screen. He feels this defeats the purpose of the device's design, adding an unnecessary layer of interaction. Since the original iPhone, Edwards has only ever dropped and broken one iPhone—an iPhone 5S—and hopes to maintain his streak of using phones without cases.