Apple has announced its first foldable iPhone, and it’s called the Duo. The phone packs a 5.4-inch outer screen, a 7.6-inch inner display, two rear cameras, Touch ID, and an IP68 rating. Preorders open October 16th, with availability starting October 23rd. The base model costs $1,999 for 256GB of storage.
The Verge’s staff has strong opinions about it, and they’re not all in agreement.
The Duo Name Lands
Jay Peters, senior reporter, approves of the branding. “I think iPhone Duo is the perfect name for Apple’s foldable. Two screens, Duo. Two back cameras, Duo.” He notes the three-letter name fits with Apple’s history of short monikers like Air, Pro, Max, and Neo. “Though somewhere at Microsoft, I am sure someone is fuming,” he adds.
The Price Problem
Jennifer Tuohy, senior reviewer, wants the phone badly but won’t buy it. “I’ve never wanted a new iPhone more. As an iPad Mini stan, it is the ideal device for me. The size, the form factor, the multitasking possibilities. But I won’t be buying it. It’s just too expensive.”
The $1,999 starting price is the sticking point.
The iPad Mini Killer
Kevin McShane, editorial director for audio and video, sees the Duo as a threat to Apple’s own tablet line. “The Apple Pencil support makes the Duo an iPad Mini killer and the perfect on-the-go sketchbook for digital artists.” For creatives, the foldable could replace a separate device entirely.
Wanting It and Hating It
Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor, is conflicted. “A folding phone sounds great, and I dig the form factor of the iPhone Duo. As my eyes get worse, I want a bigger phone, but I don’t want to carry a bigger phone.”
But he has real reservations. “I don’t need to spend more time looking at my screen, and I don’t want to downgrade my camera system either. I am a bad photographer who has fast-moving kids and puppies, and I’m not willing to give up the telephoto lens on my 17 Pro.” He suggests he might get reading glasses instead.
A Better Aspect Ratio
Marina Galperina, senior tech editor, is most excited about the screen shape. The Duo’s 1.4:1 aspect ratio could change how creators work, she says. “Seriously, that is a far more reasonable aspect ratio, especially for portraits, and, strangely, it might be the thing that I’m most excited about with the Duo.”
If Apple pushes foldables beyond a niche market, that ratio might disrupt how content is made for TikTok and other platforms.
The Passport Shape Wins Over
Emma Roth, news writer, wasn’t sold on the foldable form factor at first. “I wasn’t a big fan of the short and stout foldable look when I saw Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but it’s starting to grow on me.”
The Duo’s one-handed comfort is a key draw. She says it looks comfortable to hold in one hand, which could mean no more dropping her phone on her face while lying down, and its thin profile makes it pleasant to carry in a purse.
The Crease Worry
John Higgins, senior reviewer for TVs and audio, loves the bigger screen but can’t shake one fear. “I find myself using my iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPad more and more for watching TV shows and movies, so having a portable screen that unfolds to something larger is so enticing to me.”
The problem is the fold itself. “I can’t stop worrying about a visible, distracting crease as I fold and unfold it over months of use. I know my eyes (and brain) will attempt to focus on it no matter how slight it is.” At a minimum of $2,000, he’s not willing to gamble. “Maybe the crease will be completely indistinguishable even after over a year, but a minimum of $2,000 is too much for me to take a chance.”
Apple and Samsung Agree
Dominic Preston, news editor, sees the Duo as closely matched with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8. “The Duo is similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 in more ways than just its passport-ish size and shape.”
Both phones prioritize core performance but keep more basic rear cameras than their Pro and Ultra siblings. They’re close in price too — the Duo is only $100 more. That gap leaves room for Android makers like Xiaomi to push higher-specced foldables with better cameras, battery life, and pro features.
“Leaving Apple and Samsung to make the mainstream play,” Preston says.
The Verge team is split on the Duo. Some love the name and size, others balk at the price and worry about the crease. Preorders start October 16th.
The Numbers
- Price: $1,999 for 256GB of storage
- Preorders: October 16th
- Availability: October 23rd
- Outer screen: 5.4 inches
- Inner screen: 7.6 inches
- Cameras: two rear
- Authentication: Touch ID
- Rating: IP68
Verge Staff Reactions at a Glance
- Jay Peters — loves the Duo name
- Jennifer Tuohy — wants it but won’t pay the price
- Kevin McShane — sees it as an iPad Mini killer
- Nathan Edwards — conflicted, won’t give up his telephoto lens
- Marina Galperina — excited about the 1.4:1 aspect ratio
- Emma Roth — won over by the passport shape
- John Higgins — worried about the crease
- Dominic Preston — notes the similarity to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8
Apple’s first foldable is a big bet. Whether it pays off depends on how buyers weigh the price against the promise of a bigger screen.
Source: theverge.com
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