iPhone Duo Dummy Unit Hands-On: It Surprised Me

Quick summary: I finally got my hands on an iPhone Duo dummy unit with the exact measurements. The volume buttons on top threw me off at first, the thickness isn’t as noticeable as I expected, and it’s surprisingly close to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in size. A lot of people will be surprised at how small it feels.

Key takeaways

• The side power/Touch ID button is in a good spot.
• The volume buttons on top are different, but I think I’ll get used to them.
• It looks like one speaker on top and two on the bottom.
• It may wobble less than the Fold 8 on a table, though this is a dummy.
• Size is nearly identical to the Galaxy Z Fold 8: squared-off vs rounded.
• The dummy’s edges feel a bit sharp. Hopefully the real phone won’t.

Buttons

The power/fingerprint button on the side feels like it’s in the right spot, not too high or low. The volume buttons up top are the biggest change. It’s muscle memory, and holding it in my right hand, it’s a bit of a stretch with my smallish hands, but not bad. I don’t think I’ll mind it.

Speakers and camera wobble

There’s a speaker up top and what look like two at the bottom. Laid flat and pressed, it wobbles a bit, but maybe not as much as the Z Fold 8. It’s hard to judge on a dummy.

Thickness

We know it’s thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but holding them side by side, you wouldn’t necessarily notice if you just eyeballed them. That could change with the real thing.

Size vs Galaxy Z Fold 8

Open, it feels like a carbon copy of the Z Fold 8’s size. One is squared off and the other is rounded. Closed, coming back to it, you can feel how small it is. I think that’ll shock people who’ve never used a Fold 8. Apple talks about how big it is, but it can feel kind of small.

Comfort

The dummy’s edges feel a little sharp when my hand drifts up or down. Hopefully the real phone won’t feel like that.

Software will make or break it

Design-wise, Apple did a nice job. The camera placement, the under-display camera on the main screen, and multitasking open up cool ideas: showing a graphic for kids while you take their photo, letting people see the shot, or tent mode as a clock. A brand-new form factor gives Apple far more room to add features each year than the regular iPhone.

My take

Coming from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and 8 Ultra, it doesn’t feel crazy. Coming from a Fold 7, it might. Are you picking one up?

Accessories

• Cases: BENKS, dbrand
• Grips: OhSnap Snap Grip, PopSockets Low-Pro and Kick-Out