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that → select → site
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we → make → more
After months of anticipation, Apple finally unveiled its first foldable iPhone last month – the iPhone Duo.
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Apple → unveil → iPhone
The device folds open like a book, transforming from a regular–sized smartphone into a mini tablet, with a bigger screen for multitasking, watching videos and getting things done.
But is it just a £2,000 gimmick, or is it finally time to embrace the dual–screen life?
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it → fold → life
The iPhone Duo goes on sale this Friday, October 23, with pre–orders already selling out.
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orders → go → sale
However, the Daily Mail's Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best, was among the first to get her hands on the device and has spent the past week putting it through its paces.
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Editor → get → paces
If you're simply looking for a new smartphone, Apple's flagship iPhone 18 Pro may be the better choice.
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Pro → look → smartphone
It boasts a more advanced camera system and starts at £1,199 – £800 less than the Duo.
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It → boast → Duo
But if you regularly switch between your phone and a tablet, the Duo could be the perfect hybrid device you've been waiting for.
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you → switch → phone
After months of anticipation, Apple finally unveiled its first foldable iPhone last month – the iPhone Duo
The device folds open like a book, transforming from a regular–sized smartphone into a mini tablet, with a bigger screen for multitasking, watching videos and getting things done
Design
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things → unveil → videos
Ahead of its launch, rumours were flying left, right and centre about the design for the foldable iPhone.
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rumours → fly → iPhone
In the end, Apple opted for a book–style design, with a 5.4–inch outer display, and a 7.6–inch inner folding display.
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Apple → opt → display
While this sounds like it might be clunky, in practice, it's absolutely stunning.
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it → sound → practice
When it's closed, the iPhone Duo has a wider, shorter design than a standard iPhone, with a straight edge down the left–hand–side, and curved corners on the right.
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Duo → close → right
Crucially, I can confirm that it slides into both the front and back pockets of a women's pair of jeans with ease – something that prospective buyers have raised concerns about across social media.
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buyers → confirm → media
Having tested various other foldable smartphones, I half expected to be greeted by a dreaded crease down the middle of the iPhone Duo when I opened it up.
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I → test → it
However, Apple has managed to avoid this much–hated feature by opting for a nano–texture finish on the inner screen.
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Apple → manage → screen
This finish creates a matte surface that minimises crease visibility and reduces glare.
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that → create → glare
It's noticeably different to most iPhones, and does take some getting used to, but I really like it – it feels lovely to the touch, and will make using the device in bright sunshine much easier.
The opened screen is also impressively thin, measuring just 5.2mm thick, making it even thinner than last year's iPhone Air.
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it → take → Air
One feature that did slightly irritate me, however, is the fact that the iPhone Duo does not lay flat when the screen is fully open, thanks to the raised rear camera bump.
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screen → irritate → bump
When you're trying to type with the smartphone laid on a flat surface, the whole thing rocks backwards and forwards, making a knocking noise in the process.
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thing → try → process
You can rectify this by folding it to a right angle and just typing on one side, but if you prefer typing across a full–screen keyboard, this could be an issue.
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this → rectify → keyboard
When it's closed, the iPhone Duo has a wider, shorter design than a standard iPhone, with a straight edge down the left–hand–side, and curved corners on the right
Functionality
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Duo → close → Functionality
The outer screen's display looks much like a standard iPhone at first glance – but there are some key differences.
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display → look → glance
To compensate for the shorter screen, Apple has moved the dock from the bottom to the right–hand side of the screen.
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Apple → compensate → screen
On the homescreen, this isn't really an issue, although I do find myself second guessing where my Phone, Messages and Camera app are from time–to–time.
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app → find → time
What's more, Apple has optimised the layout of its own native apps so they fit the entire screen.
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they → optimise → screen
However, where this becomes a problem is when using non–native apps.
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becomes → become → apps
Opening up TikTok – one of my most–used apps – I was disappointed to discover an unsightly black bar down the right–hand side of the screen, which is fairly distracting while you're scrolling through your feed.
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you → open → feed
Other popular apps are plagued with the same issue, with Outlook also displaying the same black bar.
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Outlook → plague → bar
I'm sure these apps will optimise their layouts for the unusual screen size over time, but at the moment it makes using your favourites rather jarring.
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it → optimise → favourites
Having the dock on the right–hand–side also makes the iPhone tricky to use for left–handers.
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iPhone → have → handers
When closed, you can just about stretch your left thumb across to the dock, but when the iPhone Duo is open, even people with enormous hands will struggle to reach it.
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people → close → it
Another feature that definitely takes some getting used to is Touch ID, which lets you unlock the iPhone Duo using a side button.
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you → take → button
If you're a selfie fan, you'll be happy to hear that there are three different ways to snap photos of yourself
If you'd prefer to use the rear camera, you can turn the unfolded device around and snap a selfie, with a preview shown on the opposite side
With Apple using its facial recognition system, Face ID, in iPhones since 2017, I can't help but feel like this is a backwards step.
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this → hear → 2017
I'm sure you'd get used to it eventually, but during my week with the iPhone Duo, I often found myself staring at the screen, wondering why it wouldn't simply unlock by scanning my face.
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it → get → face
Opening up the screen, I really like the transition from the front display to the inner one.
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I → open → one
As you slowly open it up, the front screen begins to blur while the inner screen fades into view, bringing whatever content you were looking at on the closed device across to the main screen.
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you → open → screen
However, the opening process itself isn't exactly smooth, and it takes quite a bit of force to pry it open with two hands.
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it → take → hands
I tried opening it with one hand and it was a real struggle – while doing a dramatic, 90s–style slam shut will also leave you unsatisfied.
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it → try → you
…and 32 more, not listed.
The Aporia
