wo thousand dollars for the base 256GB version — that is exactly what Apple is asking for its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. Pre-orders for the new device kick off on October 16, and it hits official store shelves on October 23. I’ve gone through the early reviews from trade publications to figure out what you actually get for this astronomical sum, stripped of all the keynote hype.
Paper-like display and titanium hinge
When folded, you are expected to use an external 5.4-inch screen, while a large 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display is hidden inside. The main selling point of the inner panel is a matte nano-texture coating that significantly cuts down on glare under bright lights.
According to early reviews from 9to5Mac journalists, this surface treatment visually masks the crease from most viewing angles, and the inner screen actually feels like a real sheet of paper.
«Apple assures me that its titanium frame and proprietary hinge won’t let that happen.»
Meanwhile, a titanium body frame and a proprietary hinge handle structural reliability when unfolding. The system behaves unconventionally in tablet mode, too: the dock with app icons has moved from its usual spot at the bottom of the screen to the right side so you can reach it more comfortably with your thumb.
Engineering compromises and software hacks
The unusual body geometry instantly caused headaches for basic accessories. The external display has an asymmetrical shape: on the left side, right up against the hinges, the corners are cut at strict right angles, while the right side features the usual rounded corners.
Because of this shape, standard screen protectors physically block part of the display panel on the left edge. As journalist Nicolas Lellouche reported, the developers even had to implement a software workaround in the system — a special feature called Shift Left Edge.
Translating from marketing-speak: this option artificially shifts the image to the right, creating a blank fake bezel on the left so that the lip of a tight case doesn't block the interface. While Apple's own slim snap-on cases manage without cropping the display, third-party accessories will clearly demand sacrifices in usable screen area.
The bottom line: the iPhone Duo vividly demonstrates a bold experiment with matte flexible glass, but forces you to swallow raw ergonomic compromises for a steep $1,999 price tag. Buying the first generation right at launch is only worth it if you are ready to pay for early-adopter status and tolerate software fake-bezels just to get an unusual screen.