In this episode, Dave Nason goes hands-on with iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone. Dave gives a physical description of the device, as well as his very first impressions of iPhone Duo and some comparisons of the form factor to other iPhone models.
Transcript
Disclaimer: This transcript was generated using artificial intelligence (AI). It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.
Dave Nason:
Hi there, Dave Nason here. I hope you're doing well. I am here with the new iPhone Duo. Mine has just arrived here today, and so I'm going to open it up, take a first look at the physical device itself, give you a description of the hardware, and, yeah, a few maybe first impressions of what I think of it before I dive in later and set it up.
Okay, so let's open up the box.
And, okay, so it's in the box lying flat and open at the moment, and it's just got, uh, paper tabs over it, so I will take that off.
And there we go. That's the front of the box. I'm going to turn it around. And the back of the device here, um, I got the star white, as I said. I can feel the camera bump there going in the, as I look at the back face of it while open, it's obviously on the top. We have the camera bar with two cameras.
So, yeah, it feels actually quite thin and light while it's in its open kind of tablet form. I don't have an iPad Air here anymore to compare it to, but I would say it's a similar thickness to that. Obviously, when it's closed, when it's folded, it is going to be a little bit, or twice as thick to be exact, so that's going to be a different experience, I suppose. But in terms of how, you know, thin it is, it very much feels like a small tablet here, and nice and thin, and, yeah, good weight distribution, and feels very premium, I gotta say. Like, you can feel the—it has the titanium rails on the side of it. It's, um, yeah, but it feels very sturdy. Um, so, yeah, it feels good.
I'm going to fold it over for the first time, so let us see how that feels. Oh, yeah. Very satisfying. Very satisfying and very cool. And this is how it—yeah, even it does feel, like, obviously quite thick now when I've got it in its closed form compared to a normal phone, and quite wide. It feels very wide compared to other phones that I've used. So even compared to, say, the iPhone mini, it's probably a similar enough height to the iPhone mini, so similar size screen, but wider, and that, it is really noticeable. I'm just about getting my thumb across the screen. So, yeah, that will definitely take some getting used to.
And on the inside screen, I really don't think I feel the crease at all there, to be honest. Like, if you really, really look for it, I can feel a tiny bit there, but, like, it's—yeah. At the moment, obviously, we don't know how that will go over time. It's been folded precisely once so far, so we'll see how that goes, um, over time, but it certainly doesn't feel significant at this time.
Okay, let's dive in and give you a more detailed description of the physical device itself. So I have it open now, so unfolded, and I'm looking at the inside screen. The screen size, as you may know, is 7.6 inches from corner to corner. What you do feel here is there are these titanium rails—I believe it's titanium—around the edge. You can actually feel a little lip all the way around, so there's kind of a boundary on the edge of the screen all the way around. But, yeah, so it does feel very premium there, I have to say.
And then around the sides of the device. So on the left side—this is again with the, with the device open—there is nothing, as far as I can tell. It's just a flat rail. Along the top, we have speaker grilles going from left to right. We have some speaker grilles there, and then we have the volume buttons. So they are towards the top-right, so to speak, rail of the device. So along the top rail, over on the right-hand side, we have volume down and volume up. And I believe you can have them reverse the way you want, depending on the orientation that you hold the device and so on. There are options, but I believe by default the left is volume down, the right is volume up.
Then down the right-hand side, near the top, where you would get it normally on a phone, we have the power button, which, of course, in this phone is also your Touch ID button, because there's no Face ID on this device. So that is near the top on the right-hand side. Below that, near the bottom on the right-hand side, we've got the camera control button.
And then on the bottom, we have more speakers on the right-hand side on the bottom. And on the left-hand side, on the bottom rail, we have our USB-C port.
So we have a USB-C port, some speakers, volume buttons, power button, and camera control. You'll notice what's missing there, and maybe where it would have been if they had one, would be in the top left, would have been an action button. There is no action button on this device. It's one of the things I'm a little disappointed about. I'm not sure if I'll like having Touch ID instead of Face ID either. We'll see how that goes. But I would have liked to have the action button. I would have preferred it to a camera control button, if I'm honest, but it is what it is.
And finally, I thought I might take a quick look at it side by side with some other devices, just so we can see how the screen size and things compares. So, lay it flat. I have an iPhone 15 Pro here, and I have an iPhone 12 mini. So when I lay them side by side, I can see that the iPhone Duo is significantly less tall. So the iPhone 15 Pro is significantly taller than the Duo. Obviously, the Duo is a lot wider, even closed, I think it will be. We'll check that in a second.
I also have an iPhone 12 mini here, so let's compare. Let's put that on the right-hand side. And it's a very similar—it's almost exact same height. The 12 mini even is a tiny bit taller than the Duo, but not much in it. So let's close the Duo there. And again, if we lay it on top, yeah, significantly, both the 15 Pro and the 12 mini are significantly narrower than the Duo. But, yeah, let's say the height would be similar to a mini.
And then we also have an iPad Air here. Obviously, this is not an iPad mini, and I think when this is open, it's more comparable to a mini. But I'm going to lay it on top anyway. Let's see. And, okay, yeah. So it's obviously a good bit smaller than an iPad Air, but, yeah, but it is, nonetheless, it does very much look and feel like a tablet when it's open. And when it's closed, as I say, it is similar-ish to an iPhone mini, but definitely a good bit wider, significantly wider.
And, yeah, that is the physical dimensions. When it's closed, then, in terms of the buttons, it means you feel the volume buttons again, still in the top right, your power button's still on the right-hand side, where you would normally be on a phone, and the camera control the same, on the further back of your two folded pieces, I suppose you could say. And then, of course, nothing on the left-hand side, and your USB port on the bottom there. So they are the dimensions and how it feels compared to other devices, and that's it.
So there you have it. That is my first look at the iPhone Duo. I'm really looking forward to seeing how I get on with it over the next few days and weeks, and see if I like it. It's going to be a big change from what I'm used to. So, yeah, genuinely don't know if it's a phone I'm going to want to keep or not. We will see. But it's definitely cool to be trying something different, something new, and, yeah, looking forward to it.
So right now I'm off to go get it set up. Thank you for watching, and I'll see you in the next one.
Comments
Thanks for this
Great work! I 3d Printed a rendering of this and really like how wide and short it is. Is that all screen when it is closed? It just seems everything is going to be far more reachable.
Very interested to hear how it sounds too.
Looking forward to the next episode.
More initial thoughts
Yes, my early feeling is that there’s three ways to use it. Closed, open in landscape, and open in portrait. Closed, things seem quite reachable, although the far left may be tricky and things are in different places, such as the status bar and duck being moved to the right, which feels very weird right now. I’m sure I’ll get used to that. Often scrollbars are not on the right edge now, but in a centimeter or so. And as you’ll have seen online no doubt, until they’re updated, there are some apps that just have an empty strip down the right.
Open in landscape feels very much like a small tablet, but I have not used it enough to say too much yet.
Open in portrait kinda feels like an iPhone Pro Max Extra! Again though, much experimentation still to be done.
Weight distribution is interesting. When closed it feels very heavy to me, though bear in mind I’ve just come from an iPhone Air and a 15 Pro. But it is where it feels heaviest for sure.
When it’s open, it feels like a light tablet.
Hype worn off for me
I was all hyped up for this iPhone, even preordered one on October 16th. Then the reality of crackgate and dust in the hinge hit me hard, and finally I woke up to the fact that I don't care about phones that much, that any iPhone is good enough to showcase my software to the sighted in social settings, and that I don't mind to carry an iPad Mini in more serious situations that require a bigger screen, so I cancelled my order. Now I don't know why, but everything I read about this phone makes me even more certain that cancelling was the right move. I mean I'm more excited about the glowing Apple logo on the new MacBook Pros that remind me of my first MacBook Pro in 2011 than about this iPhone, and I'm totally blind with no light perception these days. The fact that the iPhone Duo costs as much as an already decent Mac while doing much less might have something to do with my feelings, but I can't really explain the aversion that I'm developing for this particular iPhone model.
Re: Hype worn off for me
I would've only gotten the duo for the small screen when closed and for touch ID. Literally the only two reasons. But then I realized if I wanted a small screen and touch ID, I could just get an iPhone SE, even if they are no longer supported by iOS.
and btw
if i wanted a big device to show off with all of the featchers of the dewo i'd get an ipad.
This is awesome
This is awesome. So it looks more like an iPad. But runs an iPhone interface. That is so crazy cool. I can’t wait to see how Voice operates on this. I can’t wait to see your part two. And thanks for the old intro of the podcast and the old sound effects going through the different features. Such a nostalgia trip love it. I love how you did the same thing with using the older voice at the end of the podcast for the information about the website. Awesome.
Anyway, you can make the transcript link rather than a heading?
Anyway, we can make the transcript a link rather than a heading? It’s hard to get from that to the comments and places like that for the actual podcast file. I have to literally go all the way to the part where those tabs and swipe all the way back to where MP3 link is. Can’t use rotor and heading and navigation and all that. :-) Thanks.
Jim, I think you made the right move
I think you read the right move canceling your device. I think I would’ve done the same thing. Sorry if I got your name wrong in the subject line. Don’t know how to spell it can’t navigate my characters. Smiley face Dominic. I agree with you if I was gonna get that, I would just get an iPad.
A warning about dust and sand
Heads-up for anyone considering a folding phone, especially if it's your first. Watching a few durability teardowns of the iPhone Duo and other folding phones by other companies gave me some insights worth sharing. Apple's IP68 rating may be accurate on paper, but the dust test is done on a stationary device, and a folding phone has a moving part exposed to the outside. What I saw suggests fine dust and sand can get caught in the hinge and work their way toward the display. So the rating doesn't really reflect what the hinge faces in real life, like beaches and dusty trails. I'm not saying skip the phone. I'm saying treat IP68 as a starting point rather than a guarantee, and keep it away from sand and dust.
Re: A warning about dust and sand
Yes. And also, they are obviously a lot more fragile so be careful with them if you buy it.
This is my concern from the start
Look any phone with any moving parts is gonna have issues like this. My friends flip phone lost half of her contacts when she lost the door of her phone. So it only makes sense that a smart phone with a moving part would have a problem like this too. I want to look at it, but I’m not going to buy it. Especially not for US$2000. Thank you very much. I still think that this podcast is awesome. I can’t wait to see how this thing runs with voiceover. That should be pretty awesome.
Re: This is my concern from the start
but, in all farenus, there fun to flip! i love going into the store and flipping and folding the phones lmao
Oh my gosh, I used to do that too
Oh my gosh, I totally used to do that too. Lol.
I concur with Choom
While I had no plans on getting the first generation of this model, I was excited to read reviews on it. After reading everything about the current model's vulnerabilities, I agree 100% with Choom; the new Mac computers are more interesting to me than this model iPhone.
And you all know by now how I feel about Mac computers. 😇
Thank you, Dave Nason, for the podcast, nevertheless. 🙂
I agree with Choom
I was so excited about this device but seeing all the problems ruined it all. I have my pre-order still placed, but I'm not sure if I want to keep this phone because of all the trouble.
Well this phone is deffenitly not worth $3000
Yes, you read that right, this phone starts at $3000 here in Canada, going up to $5000 for the maxed out configgeration.
This is crazy
The price is crazy. Great podcast as always. I could think of plenty of things to put US$2000 stores. It certainly wouldn’t be towards something like this for sure. I definitely want to at least feel it though. Can’t wait to see how Voice runs on this thing. I hope you enjoy it though I really do. I just hope. But there’s better durability for the amount of money people are spending in future generations.
half baked product but fanboys certainly will pay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJDk0GC2lwA
stick to the true pro
Oh, I know they will
Oh, I know they absolutely will. I just can’t see myself spending that kind of money. I like hearing about new devices. I just can’t spend that kind of money even if I wanted to be honest, I won’t. It’s choice. I have considered looking at the new iPad mini eighth generation, but I’m definitely not going to now because of the issues. I’m having with 27 right now and both my iPhones. I’m just gonna focus on making sure my devices I currently own work. I am going to go look at the iPad mini eighth generation though. OK, but I’m still wondering if the phone is just like an iPad then why would we need an iPad? I mean it’s gonna basically be iOS and an iPad show? Shell right?
Re: half baked product but fanboys certainly will pay
I don't understand the point of getting a new phone at all, if you're the type of person that does a yearly upgrade in this economy you even love a company a bit too much or you might be slightly a tiny bit more well often than the rest. Which in that case in my eyes, it's just survival of the fittest. I mean, if you're upgrading from, say, an iPhone 12 Pro to like an iPhone 14 Pro, maybe? But the iPhone 15 Pro is still good, the 16 pro is still good, there is absolutely no way in Hells bells I'd upgrade from the 17 pro to the 18 Pro or even the duo for that matter. But obviously it's just personal preference and taste, do as you wish I guess.
Agree with you, Dominic
Yeah, I have literally no reason to upgrade. My devices are in perfectly good working order. Softer glitches yes but the devices themselves thankfully are working. iPhone 15 primary iPhone SE 2022 secondary. I have no desired upgrade. There’s literally nothing I’m interested in. if anything, I’d probably end up getting an iPhone 17 base model at the newest but not right now. only because it’s pink and 17 isn’t. The 17th Eden didn’t come in pink. yes I know I’m obsessed with pink, but I can’t help myself. The only reason I went with a 15 is cause I wanted to switch and not the action button. But hey, I’m gonna have to inevitably get used to that too. that’s purely because Apple says I have to not because I want to. Same thing with not having a home button. That was the other reason I kept the SE 2022 around for my iPod and the last thing of home button. by the way, that device is no longer in production. Software is still being supported for anybody who’s having a fish with that I don’t even know if you can get a battery for it.
Interesting form factor and no judgement on what people buy
I think this, unlike the vision pro or the touch screen mac, does have legs. Maybe not for us straight away but if they ever get the means to make surfaces tactile, it could be quite interesting.
From the sounds of it, they've done a very good job with the design, at least, compared with the current competition. Joanna Stern set up a test and folded it 30 thousand times and it didn't seem to affect the screen at all. It's a first gen product and I think they've done well with it.
Also, buy what you want. If getting the latest tech makes you happy, then that's awesome. Find happiness where we can.