The iPhone Duo is Apple's first attempt at a foldable phone, but it isn't worth $1,999. I watched the keynote expecting to be wowed—but I wasn't. If anything, I came away with more reasons to stick with Samsung than I had going in.
Here's everything wrong with it, as far as I'm concerned, and why I'd think twice before spending that kind of money on a first-gen device.
No Face ID is a huge letdown
I use Face ID with every app I own. I don't even remember my banking app password anymore, let alone the passwords for apps I actually pay for. Face ID is fast, it's hands-off, and it's hard to break into—unless you've got an identical twin.
I know the Duo is supposed to make Touch ID feel seamless, but if you had an iPhone before Face ID existed, you'll remember Touch ID sucks. You had to position your finger just right, and it never worked on the first try. It's back to fumbling around with finger positions until Apple can get Face ID on that hidden front-facing camera. Count on some trial and error here, no matter how smooth Apple made it look on stage.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
This one's personal for me, too. I don't have a fingerprint on my right index finger anymore. I burned it off in a high school cooking class making cream puffs. Given the Duo's Nintendo DS-style shape, you hold it clamp-style with the corner resting in your palm. Your thumb's free to swipe, and your index finger is the one left to unlock the phone. Except mine can't. Sure, I could use my middle finger instead, but that's a lot of extra work for a phone that's already double the price of a Samsung equivalent.
And since this is Apple's thinnest phone yet, I have to wonder how much of your fingerprint the scanner is even reading. Can you only unlock it while it's closed? I have my doubts about how secure that setup really is.
I predict hinges breaking quickly
If you've followed foldables in the past, then you know Samsung took about three generations to actually get it right. I highly doubt that Apple mastered the hinge on the first try, especially with what looks like a double-hinge design. Samsung's own double hinge in 2024, on the Fold6, looked a lot like what Apple's showing off now, and the Fold8 has already left that generation in the dust.
Image: Apple
As a San Diegan and beachgoer, I can easily see sand building up under and inside the hinge, which can slide under your screen, create friction and overheating, and ultimately destroy your device. Not to mention all the dust that it’ll collect—like a magnet—at the bottom of my purse.
Mark my words, that hinge isn't as perfect as the keynote made it look, and the new case designs they showed don’t protect it either.
My favorite apps won't be optimized for months
Apple's ecosystem is a closed one, so of course its own apps will be optimized for the Duo's software right away. But the premium, paid apps I actually use and care about won't get that treatment. The fact that I have to put up with odd ratios for some of the most popular apps is a hassle any other foldable doesn't have.
I can only hope Libby looks as smooth on the Duo or that All Trails works well. But I doubt it.
Where do I put my Apple Pencil?
The Apple Pencil compatibility reveal in the keynote presentation seemed like an innovative change, but it's more of an afterthought than a front-and-center feature. Seriously though, where am I supposed to put it? In my bag, next to everything else I already have to carry?
And it turns out the Pencil support isn't even ready at launch. Apple confirmed it will be released later this year. So, is the Duo even ready for users? Or are these just teasers to get you to buy in now?
Image: Apple
$1,999 for 256GB is a ripoff
$1,999 for a phone with only 256GB of storage. Are you kidding me? Why build something this powerful if you can't even keep your super HD live photos without paying absurd amounts for more storage? Is this just a play for Apple to pay for iCloud storage?
If you do want more storage, it'll cost an arm and a leg to get. The 2TB version costs $3,199. For that kind of money, you could buy a Samsung Galaxy Fold8 outright and buy a separate SIM for an extra 2TB. Apple's pricing here feels less like a premium and more like a strategy to get people financing a phone they can't actually afford outright.
Image: Apple
Should you buy the iPhone Duo?
The Duo is Apple trying to be a Note and a Fold at the same time, and it shows. This feels like an experimental first swing, not a finished product. Skip this generation, and maybe check back in for the next one.
Not convinced Apple's ecosystem is worth the premium in general? Here's why I switched from iPhone to Samsung and haven't looked back.
iPhone Duo: FAQ
Does the iPhone Duo have Face ID?
No, the iPhone Duo doesn't have Face ID. It uses Touch ID built into the side power button instead of Face ID.
How much does the iPhone Duo cost?
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB, with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB costing $3,199.
When does the iPhone Duo come out?
You can preorder on October 16, 2026, with availability starting October 23, 2026.
Does the iPhone Duo support the Apple Pencil?
Apple confirmed Apple Pencil (USB-C) support is coming, but it isn't available at launch. Apple says the feature will arrive later in 2026.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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