iPhone Duo Review: Brilliant, if the apps catch up

Getting to use, play with and test the latest iPhone before it’s even available to the public is a privilege I don’t take for granted, but it comes with one real issue when the device is the iPhone Duo. It’s just so new that even app developers aren’t ready!

Our VIDEO review: https://youtu.be/Xi4TmMj0XGM

EFTM Snapshot: Outstanding hardware, held back only by apps that aren’t ready yet: the iPhone Duo is the best new iPhone in years, if you can stomach $3,499.

Developers have been tooling away inside Xcode trying to build new apps and, importantly, improve existing apps to “fit” the new inner and outer screens of the iPhone Duo, but there’s no on-screen device simulator that replicates the real experience of holding the device and testing out the software. This past week I felt like the test dummy for a bunch of app developers – my own included – scrambling to get their apps ready for launch day.

iPhone Duo – limited only by apps

The App Store “Update” page has never been so active, often with five, ten or more apps with an available update – many just by chance, but many to adjust to this brave new world which sees people shelling out at least $3,499 for this standout device.

It’s for this reason that the “usability” score of my review is lower than one might hope. The fact is there are plenty of updates needed and it won’t all happen this week. For some, it could take months.

When you launch an app on iPhone Duo that was designed with the iPhone 17 in mind at best, it’s fine, it works, but it’s a flashback to when you owned an iPad 10 years ago and installed Instagram – the app would show up in the middle of this huge screen and for the most part you’re looking at a black screen.

To counter this, Apple has a simple function to expand those windows to be much larger on screen, but still, you know you’re using Windows 3.11 software on a Windows 10 computer – if you get my gist.

Then there are apps that have been built for iOS 27, but with no real thought given to the iPhone Duo and its iOS 27.1 software. WhatsApp is a great example. On the outer screen you’ve got a big black bar on the right-hand side under the Wi-Fi/battery/cell status indicator. This area is where you’re meant to put the app navigation. The reason you know it’s a slightly better app is that when you open the iPhone Duo the app does fill the bulk of the screen. But again, that black status bar area is a dead giveaway that it’s not quite ready for Duo.

An app that is Duo-ready will show its navigation on the cover screen under the status icons, and when opened up will show some menu navigation there still but might also take advantage of the larger screen with something like a Split View. Think inbox on the left of screen and single message view on the right. Again, WhatsApp is the perfect example – on Duo today it looks like a stretched-screen version of what we’ve always known, but I’ve seen a demonstration of its Duo-compatible version and that leaves your list of chats showing on the left with a single selected chat showing on the bulk of the screen.

It’s a bit of a case of the cart before the horse. Apple couldn’t avoid this – it’s how their release plans for something so new work.

The great news? Apple’s app community is strong, vibrant and fast-moving. They are iterating and testing their apps every day, and I think for some, when they get a device in their hand, they’ll test and release very quickly.

Our developers at Friday Technologies released an update to the EFTM App, and even then what I was able to point out on the actual iPhone Duo was more than they had noticed in the simulations – so trust me, there will be a record number of app updates coming your way!

All of that is to say if you buy the iPhone Duo, have some patience for the app situation, respect and admire those that are fast moving and updated, and await the updates to those other apps you use regularly – they will come.

iPhone Duo size: a very different iPhone

Size-wise, this is a very, very different iPhone. Having used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, it’s not unfamiliar to me, but it’s still strange!

Using the closed cover screen is my go-to; I would estimate I used that over 60%, possibly 70% of the time. In reality, it’s like a step back in time to the size of the iPhone 12 mini, which I loved 🙂

iPhone Duo isn’t as “tall” as Samsung’s Fold8, and that means the inner screen isn’t as square. Apple has gone for a wider version of the inner screen, far more akin to a traditional tablet. In fact, the inner screen at 7.6 inches is the exact same aspect ratio as the 5.4-inch outer screen (1:√2 if you’re interested). Exactly the same ratio as an A4 sheet of paper, which as we know folds in half to be A5 and smaller – but the exact same ratio. This means content built for the inner screen can also perfectly suit the outer screen.

This device is made for, and I think it’s best for, content consumers and content creators.

Content consumers: one less device to carry

I’m getting on a plane today and I’m not taking a tablet with me. Sitting the iPhone Duo in what I think we can affectionately call “tent” mode, I can watch anything from YouTube to streaming content with ease. Yes, it’s a small screen, but it’s a great screen. Using a case with a kickstand, I can get that larger inner screen which, let’s be honest, is almost the same size as an iPad mini. One less device to carry.

Then you look at what’s to come, and you see Netflix’s latest app update which, when the device is half open – like a laptop – puts the show you’re watching on the upper screen and the controls on the “flat” side. It looks and works really well. Here’s to all the streamers innovating in that space.

For the scrollers – TikTok and Instagram on the open inner screen in portrait orientation are sensational. The viewable space is just enormous and, while similar to an iPhone 18 Pro Max, it’s a bit more, and that bit matters. Plus, I’ve found the device really easy to hold in that format. It is, however, a much, much larger space for sticky beaks to look over your shoulder and see what you’re watching – just saying.

iPhone Duo for content creators: the editing game changer

If you’re a content creator, strap in, this is going to be awesome. No, the iPhone Duo does not have Apple’s best camera system. For that you want the 18 Pro devices. On the iPhone Duo you’re missing the telephoto zoom lens. You still get the 48MP main camera and 48MP Ultra Wide, and while you’re saying “but what about the zoom”, think of all the TikTokers and Instagrammers and tell me how many of them are using zoom in their selfie OOTD videos. They aren’t.

So why then is this the creator’s phone? Space, and apps. Instagram’s “Edits” app has been updated and it’s probably the reason I would stick with the iPhone Duo.

If you’ve edited a video on an iPhone, you know your video is squashed to 70% size at the top two thirds of the screen and your “timeline” is at the bottom for you to scrub through, clip and edit. Open Edits on the iPhone Duo and open the screen, and you’ve got a large video preview on the left with the timeline on the right – editing is easier, clearer and just far, far better on this device – it’s a game changer. I can’t wait to see how other video editing apps adapt to this form factor.

Touch ID: I wanted it back, but I was wrong

I longed for the return of Touch ID – I missed it. Since we switched to Face ID I always thought to myself when paying with Apple Pay or something like that, “Touch ID was faster”. I was wrong. It’s not better.

iPhone Duo needs Face ID. It’s staggering that, given Apple fitted a new Face ID sensor under the screen of the iPhone 18 Pro, they couldn’t do the same with iPhone Duo. Touch ID is fast, and it’s great – but – the number of times my hand or fingers have triggered it to error and thus forced me into a PIN unlock next time I need to use the phone is enough to annoy me.

Then there are the apps that just naturally “saw” me and unlocked – like banking or other apps with protections – now I have to move to touch the sensor.

My best advice to counter this is to scan as many fingers as you can. Your middle finger on the hand you hold the phone with is likely within reach a lot of the time, and when the device is open your index finger will also be close to the top.

Gripes and questions: cameras, cup-holders and quirks

There’s also something very strange with taking photos while the iPhone Duo is open. In “landscape” orientation the camera appears in portrait mode (vertical). Turn the phone around and the camera appears in landscape mode. What? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Oh, and it’s silly, but the thing is so wide it doesn’t fit in most cup-holders. That’s my go-to spot. Boo.

Two fun apps built for iPhone Duo

Two apps you have to try – built for iPhone Duo.

Toastie – this is one of those kids’ cooking apps where an order comes in and you’re the kitchen staff making their order. Throw on the right amount of cheese and other toppings for this toasted sandwich, make sure you butter it if they asked, then hit Grill.

An animation appears to show you the bread going onto a toasted sandwich maker. You close the iPhone Duo like it’s the lid of the sandwich maker, then wait for it to cook. Don’t wait too long or it will burn, and you won’t get a good score! Gently peek inside the Duo to see the toasting progress. 

Fun, silly, well designed.

And Deck Man – choose your style of “Walkman” and then select a “cassette” from your Apple Music playlist. The cassette will “load” and you shut the Duo to control the play, forward and rewind buttons. Just plain fun again.

Battery + MagSafe

Battery life is excellent, never once felt anxiety about where it was going in a day. A 3am start on a normal busy day and by 9pm I had 16% left. Not an issue.

Plus, there’s something Samsung has never done on any flagship phone, foldable or otherwise: magnetic charging attachment. Apple calls it MagSafe, industry-wide it’s Qi2, and Apple has proven you can do it on a foldable – your move Samsung.

Should you buy the iPhone Duo?

If you love watching things and reading things, it’s amazing. 

If you love the status of having the latest and best of everything, it’s a winner.

At ,499 it’s really impossible to justify in any other way. It’s very, very expensive.

Once app numbers grow to a majority level of Duo support this device will feel seamlessly part of the Apple landscape, but right now, many apps are what is letting the device down.

I doubt that will put a single person off, though. Good luck getting one.