“The iPhone Duo took its time getting here,” CNET agreed, “but it’s made quite an entrance.”
And Gizmodo was impressed by Apple’s ability to play catch-up. “I think we can all agree that the iPhone Duo has already achieved what competing foldables have not been able to in seven years: generate considerable buzz for foldable phones,” the site argues.
Design: Something new
Considering it’s Apple’s first foldable, the Duo appears to offer a more polished design than one might expect. “Apple’s first foldable phone doesn’t look or feel like a first attempt,” wrote Tom’s Guide, “because of the sheer attention to detail. The way the friction hinge holds nearly any angle. The seamless switching between the cover and main display with the same aspect ratio. And the nano-texture coating, which minimizes glare and the dreaded crease.”
PC Mag was impressed, too. “Apple knows hardware, designing high-end devices that look good, feel great to use, and work seamlessly,” the site observed. “And that’s largely true with the Duo… The matte white rear panel of my review unit looks and feels fantastic. I also like how Apple polishes its logo into the glass, making it reflective in contrast to the smooth matte finish surrounding it… The hinge feels utterly fantastic.”
“Despite its added thickness and weight, I’ve found the iPhone Duo surprisingly comfortable to carry in my pockets,” reported 9to5Mac. “Its shorter, wider footprint makes a bigger difference than I expected… it’s hard to overstate just how impressive the whole thing feels in practice.”
Gizmodo did raise one concern. “I was a little irked that the iPhone Duo caused my front pants pocket to sag. I’ve been so spoiled by the iPhone Air’s lightness that the only solution was to wear a belt again to cinch my pants tighter around my waist.” The site conceded, however, that the Duo “is a beautifully engineered device.”
