Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, has drawn strong praise from reviewers, who agree it is the best foldable phone on the market. Chance Miller, writing for 9to5Mac, was convinced that "this form factor represents the future of the iPhone," while acknowledging that the first-generation device comes with trade-offs. What stands out most is the consensus across reviews, given how polarized opinion usually is on foldable phones. Reviewers do not think everyone should buy one.
Five key takeaways emerge. First, the iPhone Duo is widely considered the best foldable available, and Apple was right to wait before entering the category. Second, it is not for everyone. At a high purchase price, with a heavy one-handed feel and an unusual display shape, it only makes sense for people who will use the larger unfolded screen frequently. Third, the crease is not invisible. It can be seen in certain light and felt when running a finger across the screen, but reviewers agree it is the least intrusive crease yet on a foldable and rarely an issue in everyday use. Fourth, many third-party apps have not yet been updated, so some show an iPhone layout stranded in the middle of a mostly black inner display. Finally, returning to Touch ID after Face ID is a notable compromise, and most reviewers said they never got used to it.
Durability testing adds further context. Joanna Stern found the hinge became stiffer rather than looser over tens of thousands of folds, a measurable change she could not feel in normal use. HTX Studio measured the crease at just 48 microns deep when new, with a slope under 0.1 degrees, both better than competing foldables. After 3,000 folds, however, the depth rose to 167 microns and the slope to 1.24 degrees.
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing