iPhone ~ D U O

The Duo starts at $3,499. If I am gonna get one, I will go for 512 GB which is close to $4k. I have been a foldable user for more than 3 years with my Samsung Z Fold 5, and I may share some perspectives.

Different is the keyword here. This device is not like any other foldable, and I can see Apple putting lots of thought into this. My Samsung feels like two devices merged into one. The outer screen and the inner screen feel divided, because they give me a different feeling. It is like a phone moving to a tablet when unfolded, but it just never feels right to me. It should be one device, not two.

Apple did it differently. The animation and software provide an almost seamless transition. That’s why it is called Duo, not Fold. They are fundamentally different. I am not saying one or the other is better. They are different and unique.

Everything was moved towards the right, status bar and all. The inner screen also mirrors the outer screen 1:1. Samsung gives you this option, but it is never enforced. This is exactly why they are just different. Apple forces a certain type of behaviour, but Android allows the user to customise to their liking — Simply different.

I haven’t tried the real device, because it won’t be on display until next month. The weight is about 250g. I would say it is a bit heavy, but it is between the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPad Mini 6. To Apple, it is about right, but the latest Samsung Z Fold 8 is only about 200g.

From another angle, we can say Apple is just trying to be different from others for the sake of it. Apple prepared for many years before releasing the first foldable device while other companies were experimenting with things for them, and in that sense, you can say Apple sort of copied or at least got some ideas from that.

Next month, when the display is ready, I will provide an update. It is still too early for me to give a decisive view on this “new” form factor.