I just got a few minutes to play with the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, after jostling my way through the throngs of journalists, creators, and influencers at the Steve Jobs Theater. As expected from Apple, which gave us the iPhone Air, the iPhone Duo is a stunning device to hold in your hands.
Let me preface this by reminding you that this is not a review of the iPhone Duo, just my first impressions. A full review will require more testing once I get a device to use daily. Similar to the feeling I had when I first held the iPhone Air, I immediately marveled at the iPhone Duo’s thinness. It also doesn’t feel like it will snap in half if you bend it back enough on its hinge. Apple assures me that its titanium frame and proprietary hinge won’t let that happen.
Having reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, I was already prepared for the iPhone Duo’s physical dimensions. They’re similar, but the iPhone Duo feels just slightly thicker when closed. The inner screen—with its matte, nano-texture display—is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like paper; it’s not reflective at all.
Holy shit the nano texture inner screen on iPhone Duo looks like paper
Liquid Glass looks almost fake on it #appleevent pic.twitter.com/ZY6Rwb8qID
— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2026
Notably, the crease is not completely invisible. I could still see it at various angles. Like the Z Fold 8, videos and websites are larger and, as a result, feel more immersive. The outer screen is interesting. On the left side, next to the hinges, the corners are squared off, while the right side is rounded.
Apple seems to have adapted iOS 27 quite well for the iPhone Duo. The dock has moved from the bottom to the right side, which makes it easier to tap with your right thumb. It’s unclear to me whether you can change the position of the dock to the left if that’s more your preference.
I did not get a chance to try out two apps side by side—there were too many people—but I saw a demo in passing at another station and it seemed fine. Honestly, a lot of the features that Apple announced for the iPhone Duo are familiar to me; I’ve already seen them on Samsung’s foldables. Until I get more time with the iPhone Duo, it’s hard to say whether Apple has made them better or not.
The Apple Pencil support was a surprise announcement. It had not been rumored until the night before today. Unfortunately, it was not available for me to demo. Apple says Pencil support is coming later this year, so that might be why.
One thing I noticed is that the stereo speakers are on the right side of the device and the USB-C port on the left side—the opposite of the Z Fold 8.
The loss of Face ID is going to take some getting used to. Ever since the iPhone X introduced Face ID for unlocking and Apple Pay, I have never once wished for Touch ID back. I always lament my 6th-gen iPad mini not having Face ID. I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker, but it still feels like a step backward, in my opinion.
The dual 48-megapixel rear main and ultrawide cameras seemed good enough, too. The lighting at the Steve Jobs Theater is damn near perfect for showcasing new products, so it’s hard to gauge how well photos and videos look in reality, especially in low-light situations and at night. There’s also a Camera Control key on the right side of the iPhone Duo to quickly launch the camera app, take a photo, or start a recording. It worked.
Both the Night Sky (dark blue) and Star White colorways look good. The Night Sky looks almost black at certain angles.
First look at iPhone Duo. Can definitely see the screen crease at certain angles pic.twitter.com/Hf044Ks67T
— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2026
There’s still so much to explore, but Apple may have made the most desirable foldable ever created. Is it worth $2,000 or more? I don’t have an answer for that yet, but I have a feeling the answer won’t be a simple yes or no. It’s going to really depend on how much value you, personally, might get out of its features.
