iPhone Duo: Apple's $1,999 foldable hits a wall

Apple has shipped its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, starting at $1,999. The device marks the most significant hardware and software shift for the iPhone in years, but the review notes the phone has rough edges and costs more than most buyers will want to pay.

The reviewer reported that Apple engineered around some common foldable problems. The seam between the two screen halves is nearly invisible, and the reviewer rarely thought about the crease while using the phone unfolded. Apple products generally look and feel solid, and this device is no exception. Still, some design choices feel like steps backward from the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro.

The result is a device described as technically impressive but not always enjoyable to use. The reviewer wrote that the phone works surprisingly well as a small iPad, but struggled to identify a single way they preferred it to a regular iPhone. Foldable phones generally allow larger screens inside a pocket-sized body, but the reviewer noted that many Android foldables show a visible, sometimes bubbly seam where the screen folds.

The iPhone Duo represents the first hardware change since the 2018 iPhone X that fundamentally altered how the reviewer interacted with the software. The phone comes with a learning curve.

Some aspects of the design feel like steps backward from the standard iPhone design. The device costs $1,999 and up.