Numerous tech fans enjoy being early adopters, yet essential gadgets such as smartphones can present quirks. Since the iPhone Duo is Apple’s brand‑new, inaugural foldable, it may be wiser to wait until next year until the company resolves any issues.
The iPhone Duo is currently available for preorder and will start shipping on Friday. Its standout features include a book‑like flip design with a near‑seamless screen transition, making it Apple’s thinnest handset at 5.2 mm open and 11.3 mm closed. It offers a front display usable in both open and closed positions, even for photos, and provides up to 24 hours of battery life when both screens are active, per Apple.
Apple undoubtedly invested significant time and resources in designing, testing, and refining the iPhone Duo — after all, the Cupertino firm is roughly a decade behind the foldable market. Nonetheless, even the most careful development cannot anticipate every real‑world situation, and history shows that being first does not guarantee superiority.
Samsung and Google have been producing foldable smartphones for years. However, Samsung’s inaugural Galaxy Fold encountered problems when it was folded.
In 2019, reviewer Gfaloe’s Jessica Dolcourt reported that its inner display used a plastic softer than glass, making it susceptible to creases, dents and air gaps. «A foldable phone is only as good as the quality of its screen,» Dolcourt wrote.
The Galaxy Fold also failed to meet owners’ expectations. Users who peeled off the protective film from the display unintentionally increased their risk of damage, according to Gfaloe’s Andrew Lanxton.
A key benefit of not being the pioneer is that Apple could study its competitors before launching. The iPhone Duo features a matte, nano‑textured display, which Gfaloe’s Abrar Al‑Heeti described as having «a satisfying feel and virtually erasing the crease when the screen is on.» As with any new product, its durability will become clear through further testing.
Even Apple’s product launches have not been flawless. In 2014, some users reported that their iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus bent after being carried in pockets. Apple labeled the issue as «extremely rare,» yet similar bending incidents have occurred with later iPhone drops. More recently, Apple quickly addressed a software bug that caused the newly released iPhone 15 Pro to overheat.
For those eager to upgrade their iPhone, the Duo certainly looks appealing. However, I recommend examining all new iPhone models.
Notably, the base iPhone 18 is not yet available — it may arrive next year. Consequently, choosing between the new iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max might favor the latter premium options.
Although their glass candybar design lacks the novelty of a foldable, it offers a proven, dependable form factor, and the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are priced lower than the nearly $2,000 iPhone Duo.
Initial releases are inherently imperfect, reflecting the challenges of being first. While there’s excitement in owning a truly novel device, smartphones are everyday tools, not collectibles, and must be lived with, quirks included.
For major redesigns, waiting for Apple to resolve the inevitable issues in a subsequent generation is reasonable, allowing you to purchase with confidence and potentially at a lower price than buying the brand‑new model.
