The first iPhone Duo reviews are out, and they agree more than they differ. The matte inner display and the hinge win praise. The weight draws complaints. Heat and the cover display are where the verdicts split.
We read three of them, one section each.
Sam Rutherford: 8.8/10, a first-class foldable
Engadget scores the Duo 8.8 out of 10, and Rutherford says Apple has made "a first-class foldable." He calls the hinge "one of the nicest" he has used. The matte nanotexture display cuts reflections and hides the crease, though colors look less vivid in bright rooms.
Weight is the main complaint. Rutherford measures 254 g, over 25% more than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, "like an anchor in your pocket."
The two 48MP rear cameras match the Z Fold 8 and win in low light, Rutherford says, but the iPhone 18 Pro is the stronger camera phone. The 5.4-inch, 120Hz cover display reaches 3,000 nits and suits one-handed use.
Battery lasted 28 hours 48 minutes of video, about 30 minutes more than the Z Fold 8. Apple says a 60W adapter reaches 50% in 20 minutes. Unoptimized apps such as Telegram, with a lot of dead space, are the biggest growing pain.
A hinge that "feels fantastic," and a warmer phone
The reviewer at 9to5Mac says the hinge "feels fantastic". The crease is hard to see but possible to feel by touch. The inner display is 7.6 inches at a 1.4:1 aspect ratio.
The same review says it feels the weight in its wrist. It also finds the Duo runs a bit hotter than the iPhone 18 Pro, but not enough to hurt performance. Our earlier hinge heat story covers the pre-launch debate.
On cameras, it puts the main camera a notch below the iPhone 18 Pro and notes there is no telephoto lens. Safari and right-aligned controls feel awkward on the cover display, and a typical day ended with about 20% battery left.
Its verdict: "the future is foldable," but this is a first-generation product with trade-offs.
Heavier, hotter, average cameras
The Verge, as Techmeme summarizes it, calls the display "cool." The complaints are that the Duo is "heavier and bulkier than other phones" and that it "gets hot."
The same summary lists "average cameras" and a "small cover display" among the downsides.
What it means for a buyer
Buy the Duo if you want a foldable with a matte inner display and can live with the weight. Two of the three reviews put it behind the iPhone 18 Pro on cameras, so a photographer should keep the Pro. One reviewer finds it a bit warmer and another says it gets hot, though one sees no performance cost.
Try one in a store first. A 254 g phone is a daily-carry question that scores cannot answer. Apple's order page showed "Available starting 10.23" when we checked on Oct. 19, and our pre-order checklist covers what to confirm before you pay.
