Apple announced the iPhone Duo, its first device with a folding screen, at an event today. But the name “Duo” has a long and crowded history, and Apple itself has used it before.
The iPhone Duo features a custom nano-texture display material meant to minimize the visibility of its crease. Whether that will be enough to make anyone forget the other Duos that came before it remains to be seen.
NEC’s TurboDuo
The NEC TurboDuo merged the TurboGrafx-16 console with the TurboGrafx-CD, which added CD-ROM functionality. It launched in North America in 1993 after debuting in Japan as the PC Engine Duo.
The console was a joint venture between NEC and Hudson Soft. It never matched the popularity of the original TurboGrafx-16, and its run ended on Christmas Day in 1995.
Google’s VoIP Duo
Google Duo launched in 2016 as a VoIP service meant to compete with Skype and Zoom and replace Hangouts. It was eventually merged into Google Meet in 2022.
The service worked across Android, iOS, and web browsers. It supported hi-def video calls but was also optimized for slow mobile networks.
Apple’s PowerBook Duo
The iPhone Duo is not even Apple’s first product with the name. The PowerBook Duo arrived in 1992 as the smallest and lightest PowerBook available, though it still weighed over 4 pounds.
Apple kept the laptop small by omitting built-in ports and expansion features. Connecting peripherals required optional docks, an approach that foreshadowed the modern need for USB hubs on MacBooks.
The MagSafe Duo
Twenty-three years after the PowerBook Duo was discontinued, Apple announced the MagSafe Duo charger. It could wirelessly charge an iPhone and an Apple Watch at the same time.
The charger felt like a consolation prize for the Apple AirPower, which was announced in 2017 but never materialized. The MagSafe Duo was discontinued in late 2023.
Microsoft’s Surface Duo
The iPhone Duo is not the first folding mobile device called the Duo. Microsoft’s Surface Duo launched in 2020 and skipped flexible screen technology entirely, using a visible hinge between its pair of 5.6-inch screens.
Software issues, a disappointing camera, and outdated specs doomed the device. An improved Surface Duo 2 launched a year later, but the line failed anyway.
Asus and Its Duos
Asus has made two laptops called the Duo. The ROG Zephyrus Duo is a powerful gaming laptop with a pair of 16-inch screens that can be stacked or placed side by side.
The ZenBook Pro Duo came first. It had a primary 15.6-inch screen and a secondary 14-inch display above the keyboard, designed to hold tools like Slack or Gmail without distraction.
Pebble and Roomba
Eric Migicovsky, creator of the Pebble smartwatch, brought the wearable back under a new company called Core Devices. The Pebble 2 Duo is a budget-friendly alternative to the Apple Watch and Wear OS devices.
At IFA 2026 in Berlin, iRobot debuted the Roomba Duo, still a prototype. It includes a mobile dock with water tanks and a deployable garage holding a smaller Roomba Plus 757 for tight spaces.
Retroid’s Pocket Duo
Retroid revealed the full design of its dual-screen handheld hours before Apple’s announcement. The Retroid Pocket Duo is a modernized Nintendo DS with dual 120Hz screens.
Full specs and pricing are not confirmed. The device features a symmetrical dual thumbstick design, two pairs of shoulder buttons, and a headphone jack.
The iPhone Duo enters a field crowded with namesakes.
| Device | Year | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| NEC TurboDuo | 1993 | Console with CD-ROM |
| Google Duo | 2016 | VoIP service |
| PowerBook Duo | 1992 | Ultraportable laptop |
| Surface Duo | 2020 | Dual-screen phone |
| iPhone Duo | 2026 | Folding screen |
Whether the iPhone Duo’s folding screen stands out among them is a question for the market. The name alone will not set it apart.
Source: theverge.com
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