iPhone Duo Best Buy Orders Ship, Crease Test & Matte Film

Quick summary: We’re one day away from the iPhone Duo. Best Buy orders are shipping for October 23 delivery, a durability test shows how the crease changes after 10,000 folds, and someone peeled off the matte screen protector. Here’s my take.

Key takeaways

• Best Buy orders are shipping via FedEx for October 23 delivery. Best Buy and the carriers came through when Apple’s own dates slipped.
• The crease gets more indented after 10,000-plus folds, but it doesn’t affect how you use the phone.
• Removing the matte film shows a normal foldable display underneath: brighter and better outdoors, but less forgiving of scratches and the crease.

Best Buy iPhone Duo orders are shipping

I ordered two through Best Buy, including carrier versions, which you can only get there, and one through Apple. My Best Buy order showed “Preparing” with FedEx delivery set for tomorrow, the 23rd. Best Buy showed the 23rd as available for a long time, and it actually delivered on that promise. The carriers came in second. Apple’s dates are long gone. Did your Best Buy order ship yet?

The crease after 10,000 folds

A lot of people are worried about the crease. Don’t be. It’s way overblown. A durability test compared a brand-new unit with one folded more than 10,000 times. The crease gets more indented, so you see it more, but it doesn’t affect using the phone. The rumors of Apple shipping a creaseless phone didn’t pan out, and the crease looks even less noticeable with the screen protector off.

What’s under the matte screen protector?

Ice Universe shared that someone peeled off the iPhone Duo’s matte film, claiming the screen underneath looked surprisingly uneven. Honestly, I didn’t see anything beyond a normal folding phone display. Turn it on and it’s bright.

It’s a double-edged sword:

• Matte film on: hides minor scratches and the crease a bit more, and reduces glare.
• Matte film off: a brighter, more vibrant display and, I’d guess, better outdoor visibility.

I’ll decide when mine arrives, but I’m guessing I’ll want the brighter display. I need brightness more than ever these days. Either way, it doesn’t concern me at all.

One day away

We’re one day away. I can’t wait to start using it, and I still need to order my Apple Watch. More coverage is coming as soon as mine arrives.