iPhone Duo: The Biggest Features, Biggest Risks And What Buyers Need To Know

Apple's long-awaited foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is finally here after months or even years of speculation. Joining us now to tell us all about it is Mark Spoonauer, Global Editor-in-Chief at Tom's Guide. Thank you so much for being here, Mark. Thanks for having me and my friend. Yes, of course. I know your friend there. So let's see. Show them off. Let's see what we've got here. Walk us through it. What are we looking at here? Sure. So the iPhone Duo, I mean, for those who don't know, it's Apple's first foldable phone. This category has been out for a long time, right? But the idea is that you get a 5.4-inch compact, fairly compact phone on one side. And then when you open it, you get a 7.6-inch display, right? So pretty massive. It's the biggest ever for an iPhone. And it's about 50% bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Yeah, just incredible to think about that capability. And now with the iPhone kind of sensibility, the Apple design there, um something that we've seen obviously from Samsung from Google from other makers in the field what really feels different about this when it comes to the competitors that are out there right now sure there's a couple of things so one is actually like the durability and how it feels in your hands so like i really like the fact that it's IP68 rated which basically means it's protected against both water and dust right so i could actually you know take this to the beach if i wanted to so a lot of people are worried about like particles getting stuck in the hinge and behind the display and that's not a worry with this phone so i think from a durability perspective they definitely nailed it i also like the nanotextured display sort of right so i like the fact that it hides the crease right so as i turn this phone it's kind of hard to see where that crease like where the phone folds right um you know the the only downside and it's also like great at reducing glare, especially if you're outside. The only downside is that it doesn't have quite the same eye-popping colors as it says, like the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which has a more traditional glossy OLED display. So it really depends on what you're looking for. But I think they've really done a nice job with the design in particular. Yeah, the design is something that Apple always does so well. And it's so interesting to see how they've now translated that into this new foldable phone. Tell us a little bit about the comparison when it comes to size, because I You know, a lot of people think, all right, well, if I'm going to get this foldable phone, it's to have the bigger size when it's open. So is it actually in line with some of those competitors? Well, yeah, it is. So 7.6 inches when it's open is about the same size as the Galaxy Fold 8, but it is a little bit heavier and thicker than that phone. Now, when it's open, it is the thinnest iPhone ever, right? So when you see that, it's definitely thin. And it's pretty comfortable when you're using it with two hands. but in terms of like the pocket test right so putting in your pocket you're going to feel it in terms of the weight but i i would put it in my front pocket and it fits just fine but you might see it if you have like skinny jeans on which i can't pull off anyway but so you don't even have to worry about it then you're fine get those baggy cargo pants out and your phone is shoved in your pocket you're good when it comes to obviously the design of now having the foldable option with it that is clearly the biggest differentiator here but what else are you seeing in terms of features Is there anything else that's different alongside that? Yeah, I would say like one big thing is just like multitasking, right? So for the first time on an iPhone, you can have two apps that are running side by side at the same time, right? And Apple has done a really good job of making it easy for you to multitask. So like as I come through, I can have TikTok here. I can have Safari on this side, right? So it's really easy to not only set up two apps side by side, but also to drag content from one window to another. Or let's say if I'm sending out like an email and I want to drag a photo over to it or a message or something like that. The other thing is that it has like these what's called like basically like multiple modes. So depending on the app, you could have like a laptop like mode and the hinge is super well designed. Software actually morphs based on how the device is being held or how it's being positioned. So I'll show you in a second, but like one example is like Netflix or Apple TV, where you have like the controls down below and the content up top. So it's kind of like a mini laptop in that way. Yeah, that's actually a really cool feature. I feel like I often am using that where I have multiple things going on at once on my laptop, but not having that capability on the phone is a little bit frustrating sometimes. So that's interesting that that's one of the things that you'll really now be able to do with it. Tell us a little bit more about someone who might want to get this versus the new iPhone 18 Pro that also just came out recently. What do you think is going to make some people maybe go to the Duo versus say, and actually I'm going to stick with the 18 for now? Yeah, so I would say like the versatility, right? So like I was just talking about the fact that you can have multiple modes, you can use it as a mini laptop, you can have an intent mode when you're watching video. So I think in a way, it kind of feels like the future of phones in terms of just what you can do with a device like this. And I think in a way that Apple is pushing the envelope way more in terms of the hardware and the software and how they play together. And even some of the first third-party apps that are coming in, just like a really quick example, like Slack. So you see your rooms and your contacts on the left and your messages on the right. On Android phones, it's still like a big stretched out phone app. So the developers, I think, are really latching on to this design. And I've been shocked with the amount of optimized apps that are already out. And the phone's not even on sale yet. It's on sale Friday. But in terms of the comparison versus the iPhone 18 Pro Max, as you mentioned, I would say if you want a telephoto zoom, that is the number one reason to still go for the Pro Max is this only has two cameras, right? So you have a regular camera and an ultrawide. So if you like to zoom in, you only get a digital zoom on this phone and it only goes to 10x, whereas the iPhone 18 Pro Max goes to 40x, right? So that's a pretty big difference if you're at a concert or at your kid's soccer game or whatever else. And also the battery life, while it's really good on this phone, I got through like most days, like where I was, like at the end of the day, I was at like 39, 30%, something like that. I would say the iPhone 18 Pro Max lasts even longer. So it's like a four hour difference. So it really depends on what you want from your next phone. Yeah, it really seems like if you're going for that versatility, obviously this new Duo is going to be the one for you. But again, maybe if you're more focused on the camera, then maybe you sticking with the 18 Pro Max is better. As you mentioned, though, no matter what, you can't even get this phone if you wanted it. So talk to us a little bit about that. We know it's out this week, but pre-orders have been going like crazy, right? So tell us about that timeline if someone does want to get it. Yeah, so we've been following this on Tom's Guide, right? So for anyone who wants the iPhone Duo, right, they can pre-order it, but you're going to have to wait. So like Apple, it really depends on what storage you get and what color and that sort of thing. But the dates have slipped to already to as late as December and January in some cases. But if you go through a carrier, let's say like AT&T or Verizon or T-Mobile, we've seen some dates that are like more like November, maybe latest December. And then also don't, you know, remember to also check like retailers like Best Buy. They have their own allotment too. And in some cases, we've seen some dates as early as like late October, early November. But no matter what, you know, to your point, like people are going to have to wait to get their hands on this device. Yeah, exactly. So people are going to see this. They're going to get excited, not be able to get it. But that's a good point to be able to look at some other retailers and say, all right, where can I get it? That's maybe not straight from Apple, but I can get it a little bit sooner. Talk to me a little bit about the price for this, right? What are people looking at when it comes to the 18 Pro Max versus this new phone? And then also versus the Samsung or Galaxy, other versions of a foldable phone that are out there already? Yeah. I mean, so right now, the difference between this and a traditional slab phone like the 18 Pro Max, you're talking about a difference of $800, right? So $1,200 versus $2,000. When you break it down in terms of a monthly price, it's about $55 a month for this, depending on the carrier and the program that you set up. but that's a lot of money, right? So I think people are going to have to decide for themselves, whether or not a foldable is for them, and whether or not you want to wait until there's a second generation where they maybe want to add some features or work on some of the early kinks. But I will say that among the foldable phones that I've tested, and I've tested them all, this is going at the top of our list because of the design and because of the software and that first generation of apps look really good. To be clear, there are some apps out there that are not optimized yet. But I do think that developers are going to be rushing to get their stuff updated. Yeah, I'm sure they will because as more people get this phone, they're obviously going to want their apps to look the best that they can and be the most optimized as they can for this new phone. That's interesting though, that it's going right to the top of your list. I can't wait to check one out and see it in person. Lastly, before I let you go, tell me, what do you think this signals as you move forward with now new CEO, John Ternus being there, Tim Cook stepping down. What do you think this signals as he's taking the reins and has this really huge product launch kind of at the beginning of his tenure as CEO? I mean, I think it definitely starts it out with a bang, right? The fact that you have so much pent up demand for their first foldable device. And I know it just having spoken with him, I was at the Apple event and we had a chance to interview John Ternus for Tom's Guide. He really knows like the details cold, like he could talk about the nanotexture display. And I feel like that's a big difference between him and Tim Cook in terms of just like knowing like the nitty gritty and the tech and the details behind the device. So his attention to detail when it comes to design and to the products, I think is going to serve Apple well. And what's interesting is that next week, there's another Apple event happening where they're expected to launch their very first touchscreen MacBook, which I think is interesting because they've basically been adamant for years saying, we're not going to do that. We think it's a compromised product. We don't think people want to reach out and touch their laptops, but now they're doing that, right? So I think, you know, the volume of products is going to increase, at least that seems to be the case. And also, I just get the sense that he's going to be willing to take risks while also sort of applying that traditional Apple DNA. Yeah, it really seems like he is, as you're saying, with that potential new laptop coming out, so many other changes and new products that we've seen coming out over there. We'll definitely have to keep our eye on all of this. I can't wait to try out one of the phones. Thank you so much for being here and breaking it all down for us. Mark Spoonhour, Global Editor-in-Chief at Tom's Guide. Really appreciate your time. Okay. Thanks for having me.