Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo earns mostly positive reviews

The first full reviews of Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, came out Wednesday, October 21, after the review embargo lifted. Most critics were positive, with two recurring complaints: the lack of Face ID and a starting price of $1,999. AppleInsider's roundup found the device's strengths outweighed its weaknesses. Customers who preordered will start getting phones on Friday, October 23.manofmany.com

Crease and multitasking praised

The Duo has a 5.4-inch outer screen and opens like a book to a 7.6-inch inner display. Its titanium hinge has more than 100 parts, and it runs on the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro line. Reviewers agreed the fold is close to invisible. CNN said the crease is "barely visible" during normal use. Wired said the matte nano-texture finish "cleverly hides the crease," and Man of Many reported that it "vanishes entirely when viewed front-on".manofmany.com+3

Running two apps side by side was another highlight. Wired said split-screen with optimized apps "looks excellent," though it noted that Apple always forces a 50-50 split and doesn't allow a floating third app. PCMag said the Duo has "the best hardware, performance, and battery life of any foldable phone on the market."wired.com+1

Face ID, price and apps

Apple replaced Face ID with a Touch ID sensor in the side button. Man of Many called that "a BIG hassle," because you have to touch the phone every time you want to unlock it. Reviewers also pointed to the 254-gram weight and the missing telephoto camera. The phone costs $1,999 for 256GB and $3,199 for 2TB. CNN's Lisa Eadicicco said many popular apps, including Google Maps and Uber, had not yet been updated for the larger screen. She advised buyers to "wait until developers have had more time to optimize their apps".cnn.com+3

Shipment outlook

Supply is tight. Pickup stock for launch day sold out once preorders opened, and some delivery estimates have moved into late January. IDC expects Apple to ship about 7 million Duos this year, roughly 3% of its total 2026 shipments.cnbc.com

Taiwan-based Digitimes reported that price increases across Apple's lineup will hurt fourth-quarter 2026 iPhone shipments even with the Duo's launch. Higher memory costs are driving those increases. iPhone 18 Pro starting prices are $100 above the iPhone 17 Pro's, and Apple has reportedly agreed to pay 30% to 40% more for memory chips starting in early 2027. Separately, Loop Capital downgraded Apple to Hold, pointing to iPhone shipment cuts and rising memory costs.finviz.com+1

Men's Health reviewer Brett Williams ended up won over but stayed unsure of the trade-off: "It's a $2,000 smartphone, and it's not as straightforward as the more standard, less expensive options".menshealth.com