{"id":53611,"date":"2026-10-22T14:54:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T18:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=53611"},"modified":"2026-10-22T14:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T18:54:32","slug":"iphone-duo-reviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/22\/iphone-duo-reviews\/","title":{"rendered":"iPhone Duo Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"

John Gruber<\/a> (Mastodon<\/a>, tweet<\/a>, Bluesky<\/a>):<\/p>\n

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The Duo name is perfect. It truly is like having two devices in one. The outer device is, by far, the worst iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s a miserable fat little thing. The inner device is a splendid, joyful, beautiful tablet, with a UI that out-iPads the iPad. For me, by far, it’s my favorite tablet experience ever. I prefer it to any iPad or Kindle-like reader I’ve ever used.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

It does not go into or out of my jeans pocket smoothly. Sometimes, in my pocket, it rotates 90 degrees, which is uncomfortable. Folded up it never stops feeling heavy.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

No, the problem with holding the Duo in your left hand alone is that the bottom left corner of its D-shaped frame digs into your palm. When you hold it in your right hand, it’s a nice round corner in the meat of your thumb’s base. In your left, it’s a crisp sharp corner, and it doesn’t feel good.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

I’d love a display that looks and feels like this on my non-foldable iPhone 18 Pro. No glare, even in sunlight. It’s amazing.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Held horizontally, the iPhone Duo supports side-by-side multitasking with two apps. The user interface for this feature is brilliant. It puts every idea Apple has tried on iPadOS for multitasking to shame.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Every time you pick up the Duo to use it you face The Decision. Open it? Or be lazy and suffer with the outside display? Every time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

This is such a good review; you should just read the whole thing. Marques Brownlee<\/a> has a great video review. Like Gruber, he really misses FaceID. They seem to disagree about the camera and screen aspect ratios. I also really liked Joanna Stern’s<\/a> video review. She and Gruber both say it’s too hard to open the Duo with one hand.<\/p>\n\n

MacRumors<\/a> and MacStories<\/a> have review roundups.<\/p>\n\n

Austin Mann<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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A week with the iPhone Duo at home, camping and in Iceland. A capable camera with new tricks, and a creative powerhouse for planning, editing and sharing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n