I hate when Android brands copy Apple — but the iPhone Duo is the exception

The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, is now officially unveiled and will be available later this month. This development has left many Android OEMs scrambling to follow suit and enter the wider foldable market. While I have traditionally criticized Android brands for blindly copying Apple's strategies, the iPhone Duo's wider, passport-style design has changed my stance.

After using various foldable phones, I've realized that the traditional tall-and-narrow form factor doesn't work as well for me. The cover display is too narrow for typing, apps can feel cramped, and the overall experience is less than ideal. Furthermore, the traditional foldable display often feels like two phones side by side, which isn't a great experience.

Android foldables have matured over the past few years, offering wider form factors that address some of these shortcomings. For instance, Xiaomi's 18 Fold phone manages to fit a dedicated telephoto camera inside, and OPPO's Find N6 has shown that it's possible to create a near-crease-free foldable display without relying on nano-texture finishes.

Android manufacturers are likely already analyzing the iPhone Duo, identifying what Apple did well and where they can improve upon it. The iPhone Duo also showcases some impressive optimizations for the larger foldable display, with Apple already demonstrating apps that take advantage of the extra space. On the other hand, Android foldables have been around for nearly a decade, and many apps still aren't properly optimized for large-screen devices.

For example, Slack's app on Android foldables still resembles a stretched-out version of the regular phone app. As interest in foldable phones continues to grow, driven by the iPhone Duo's launch, developers will have fewer excuses not to optimize their apps for these devices. This push for wider form factor foldables could ultimately lead to better experiences for users across both iOS and Android platforms.