5 iPhone Duo Features I’m Already Dying to Try

The iPhone Duo, Apple's passport-sized foldable iPhone, has generated significant buzz for its versatile design and potential features. Upon testing the Duo at Apple Park, the reporter was intrigued by several aspects that they are eager to explore further as the phone becomes their everyday device.

One of the key draws of foldable phones is their ability to watch videos on a larger inner display. Traditional book-style foldables often result in letterboxing when unfolded, leaving large black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. The Duo, however, has a 1.4:1 aspect ratio that better suits content consumption, reducing those bothersome bars and allowing more of the display to be used for video.

The reporter is particularly excited to test how the Duo's matte main display handles glare and the appearance of a crease, especially under bright lighting conditions like the California sun. They also look forward to evaluating if the colors appear more muted due to the matte screen or if there is hardly any noticeable difference.

Another feature that could enhance the viewing experience is the Duo's "disappearing" under-display inner camera. This design hides the camera when not in use, providing fewer visual distractions when watching TV shows and movies while also preventing a tiny black hole from obstructing documents and other content on the larger screen.

Additionally, the Duo's speakers are positioned on opposite sides of the phone, with one set on the upper left half and the other on the bottom right. This balanced speaker setup may result in a more immersive sound experience compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which places both speakers on the left side.

The Duo is also limited to multitasking with just two apps, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which supports up to three apps. While the reporter typically sticks to running two apps simultaneously on the Z Fold 8 to avoid overcrowding, they are curious to see how many other apps, both internal and third-party, will support this capability.

Moreover, the Duo's support for the Apple Pencil stylus, which is slated to arrive via a software update later this year, could set it apart from competitors like the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which lacks S Pen support. Despite rumors about Apple designing a smaller Apple Pencil for the Duo, the company opted for its USB-C Pencil (but not the Apple Pencil Pro).

The reporter, who has never owned a tablet, is excited about the potential of the Duo's stylus compatibility to elevate the device above competitors.