Apple unfolded its new iPhone this week, and we’re still trying to wrap our heads around it. The folding iPhone Duo, revealed at the tech company’s Surprise and Shine event Wednesday, was far from a surprise — and, in a sense, not all that new, since other phone makers have been folding their phones for years.
Still, the rumors were one thing. Seeing the real deal — which is available for preorder Oct. 16 and in stores Oct. 23 — is something entirely different. And once new CEO John Ternus gave us the first look at the $2,000 passport-style gadget, the tech experts at CNET had plenty to say. Here’s a glimpse at what we’re thinking. Like the apps on a folding phone, we aren’t always on the same page.
The iPhone Duo has two 48-megapixel rear cameras.Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
Maybe buy the iPhone Duo, but not this iPhone Duo
Having doubts about the crease? Maybe wait to see how the first batches of folding iPhones hold up before spending $2,000 on an experiment, CNET Reporter Katelyn Chedraoui says.
When it comes to major redesigns, there’s no harm in waiting until Apple fixes the inevitable pain points with the next-generation device. And if it turns out there aren’t any big issues, you can pay for the device with peace of mind and, hopefully, less money than it would be to buy it brand new.
Katelyn Chedraoui, CNET reporter 2
Read more: Apple’s iPhone Duo Is an Engineering Marvel, but Should You Buy 1st Gen?
Is this an iPad Mini killer?
Sometimes you want a phone for phone tasks and something a little bigger for slightly-larger-than-phone tasks. CNET Senior Consumer Insights Editor Dashia Milden wonders if the iPhone Duo can do the job of both — and if that spells doom for the company’s smallest tablet.
The iPad Mini is bigger than the iPhone Duo, with a screen size of a little over 8 inches. But the iPhone Duo’s functionality and bigger screen size make me wonder if it’s the perfect handheld device if you’re already considering a new iPhone and iPad.
Dashia Milden, CNET senior consumer insights editor
Read more: Bye-Bye, iPad. The iPhone Duo Could Be the All-in-One You Need
You can get a lot of other Apple devices for the Duo’s $2000… or, at least, two.Patrick Holland/CNET
A familiar touch… ID
For some reason, having my phone scan my face creeps me out more than having it scan my fingerprint. The iPhone Duo’s inclusion of Touch ID, which hasn’t been on an iPhone for four years, was one of CNET Senior Editor Lori Grunin’s favorite things about the event.
We had some in-chat mockery about the ability to register multiple fingerprints for the Touch ID, but as someone who occasionally has dirty, greasy or otherwise electronics-objectionable hands, being able to use a clean finger sounds nice to me.
Lori Grunin, CNET senior editor
Read more: My Favorite Things From Apple’s iPhone 18 Event
Sure, you can stand it up, but this isn’t a smart display
We saw a lot of examples from Apple of people propping the iPhone Duo up like a tent and using it as a home display. But that’s no replacement for an actual smart home display, says CNET Senior Editor Tyler Lacoma.
Ginormous pricing aside, the foldable Duo isn’t big enough to take over my favorite roles for a smart display, like serving as a second TV screen while you’re busy, and its speakers certainly can’t compare with the room-filling options most home displays come with these days.
Tyler Lacoma, CNET senior editor
Read more: Sorry, Apple, but the iPhone Duo Isn’t the Smart Display I’m Waiting For
Is the crease still a thing?
The dreaded crease. It’s the most annoying thing about folding phones. But did Apple engineer it into nonexistence? CNET Director of Content Patrick Holland could see it… barely.
It is nearly nonexistent, and I had to hold it next to a video light to really see it. I can feel it with my finger, but even then, it’s subtle. I’ll be curious to see how well the screen holds up over two, three or four years of use and if the crease gets more pronounced — I imagine that will be the case here, as it has been with all foldable phones.
Patrick Holland, CNET director of content
Read more: I Saw the iPhone Duo’s Crease. Barely
You can prop the iPhone Duo on its side to quickly glance at the time.Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
Finally, an iPhone with a stylus
Apple has its own branded stylus, the Apple Pencil, but the company has long resisted letting you use that on the iPhone. The iPhone Duo puts an end to that, writes CNET Senior Editor Matt Elliott. Is the rest of the lineup next?
In the case of the Duo, it’s not about the display being too small, but about having a display so large when unfolded that it rivals an iPad’s.
Matt Elliott, CNET senior editor
Read more: It’s iPhone Duo Users Who Will Want a Stylus
How does it compare?
What about those other folding phones? We’ve drawn up the key comparisons between the iPhone Duo and rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, although it’ll take some hands-on time with all these devices to see what really stands out.
If you want a device optimized for consuming a wide range of content, the versatile iPhone Duo could be a better fit. If you prefer a more traditional phone that unfolds into a larger display, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold may be the more natural choice.
Abrar Al-Heeti, CNET senior tech reporter
Read more: iPhone Duo vs. Pixel 11 Pro Fold: 2 Durable Foldables Face Off
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