★ The iPhone Duo
It’s been a lot of fun trying the Duo out for a week, but it feels like I’ve gotten to use an extraordinarily polished prototype — not a finished product that I’d want to buy and carry.
The iPhone Duo, a combination of a phone and tablet in one device, raises many questions about its usability. The outer (cover) screen appears small and cramped, with UI controls arranged in an unfamiliar manner. When the inner screen is unfolded, the hardware buttons on the edges seem out of place for a tablet. Users accustomed to Face ID may find Touch ID frustrating, and third-party apps not updated for the Duo's displays may be cumbersome to use.
Despite these issues, the Duo offers a unique experience. The outer device is the worst iPhone Apple has ever made, while the inner device is a splendid tablet with a superior UI. The Duo's design is a compromise, with the outer device being a heavy, awkward phone and the inner device being a lightweight, joyful tablet. Some of these problems may be addressed in future iterations, but certain aspects of a foldable device may be inherently unsolvable.
Ultimately, the decision to purchase the Duo depends on individual priorities: those who value a pocketable tablet over their iPhone may find it appealing, while those who heavily use their iPhone may be frustrated.
Written by urgent.news from Daring Fireball's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
