iPhone Duo: Things iPhone Users Are Going to Hate

Quick summary: The iPhone Duo is an awesome first-generation foldable, but it comes with trade-offs that longtime iPhone users may hate. It has Touch ID instead of Face ID and no dedicated telephoto. It’s the heaviest iPhone ever and costs a lot. There’s also a weak under-display camera and no Action button. I still say give it a try.

Key takeaways

• Touch ID instead of Face ID. Face ID is honestly great, and you’ll miss it.
• No 5x telephoto. Zoom relies on a 2x crop from the 48MP main sensor.
• The heaviest iPhone yet at about 8.96 oz, heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
• The price: about $2,000 to start and around $3,200 for 2TB.
• The under-display camera on the inner screen isn’t impressive.
• No Action button. You’ll need Control Center or another method for mute and shortcuts.
• No pro camera controls like the Pro models’ variable aperture.

Touch ID instead of Face ID

The Duo uses Touch ID in the power button. If you’ve lived with Face ID for years, this will feel like a step back. Face ID is honestly great.

No telephoto lens

Zoom relies on a 2x optical-quality crop from the 48MP main sensor. There’s no dedicated 5x telephoto like on the Pro models. Far-away and zoomed shots won’t look as good as on the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max.

The heaviest iPhone ever

At about 8.96 oz, it’s heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and noticeably bulkier than competitors like the Galaxy Z Fold 8. If you’re coming from other foldables, you’ll notice how heavy and thick it is, and it can cause some hand fatigue. It’s Apple’s first generation, and it hits it out of the park in many ways, but this is a downside.

The price

It’s right in the ballpark of other foldables, but for an iPhone it’s crazy. It starts around $2,000, and the 2TB version is about $3,200. That’s a dent in your wallet whether you pay up front or monthly. With everything getting more expensive, don’t be surprised if prices rise during the year.

Under-display camera compromises

The inner display uses an under-display camera, mainly for FaceTime. You can take photos and videos with it, but it’s not impressive. For good photos, use the cover screen camera or, better yet, the rear cameras. With the phone open, the cover display lets you frame yourself with the rear cameras.

No Action button

Apple dropped the customizable Action button on the Duo. If you rely on it to mute or trigger shortcuts, you’ll have to use Control Center or another workaround.

No pro camera controls

The Duo misses the variable aperture hardware and pro-level shooting controls on the iPhone 18 Pro series. Coming from an older iPhone, like an iPhone 13, you’ll still get great photos. Coming from the newest Pro models, it’s a downgrade. That’s a small group, but for some people the camera will decide it.

Should you still try it?

Yes. It’s super powerful, the form factor is really cool, the open-and-close effects are great, and it feels very well built. Once you unfold, you never go back. Most people I know who use foldables don’t miss slab phones. If it’s not for you, return it and get an iPhone 18 Pro Max, or a Galaxy Z Fold 8 / 8 Ultra.

Grab an OhSnap grip to make that weight easier to hold.