iPhone Duo hands-on: Apple’s first foldable feels polished but makes compromises
Macworld spent a week using Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, as a daily driver after switching from an iPhone 18 Pro Max. The review says its titanium build, IP68 rating, and stiff hinge make it the most polished foldable the writer has tested, though it omits Face ID in favor of a side-mounted Touch ID sensor. The asymmetrical design and 254g weight are noted as trade-offs, but the device is described as compact and well balanced when open.
Apple’s first foldable arrives years after Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, as Google, Xiaomi, Huawei and others refined bendable screens. The Duo uses a titanium frame, IP68 protection, and a hinge that holds several angles. Folded, it is passport-sized and slightly shorter than the Galaxy Z Fold 8; open, it has 5.4-inch outer and 7.6-inch matte inner displays.
The 254g review unit swaps Face ID for side-button Touch ID. Apple removed the Action button and placed volume keys on the top edge. Its asymmetrical shape—rounded on one side, squared on the other—resembles Xiaomi’s 18 Fold and felt easier to grip closed and balanced open.
The iPhone Duo could push foldables further into the mainstream by giving Apple loyalists a familiar, polished option, potentially encouraging more people to try larger-screen phones that fold. Its compromises—Touch ID instead of Face ID, heavier weight, and rearranged controls—may shape how users judge convenience versus novelty. App developers and accessory makers could also respond to a wider foldable audience, though adoption may remain limited by familiarity and trade-offs.