Apple Duo Hits Shelves at $1,999 With Touch ID and Software Gaps
The new foldable features a 7.6-inch inner display and a fingerprint sensor, but early users face unoptimized apps and accessory issues.
By Layla Fontaine ·
Apple has begun selling the iPhone Duo, its first folding smartphone, at a price of $1,999. The device launches seven years after Samsung introduced the Galaxy Fold. Wired describes the hardware as a "pretty dang good foldable," noting that Apple spent years refining the design out of public view.
The phone features a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display. This new form factor has created immediate software challenges. Many third-party applications have not yet been optimized for the split-screen layout. Users report seeing a narrow strip of content in the center with thick black bars on the sides. Slack, Instagram, DoorDash, and WhatsApp have received updates for iOS 27.1, but some still show broken interface elements.
Apple has moved navigation elements to the right rail instead of the bottom center. Because the Duo is currently back-ordered for several weeks, developers may finish their updates before many customers receive their devices. The launch also marks a departure from recent iPhone design, as the device lacks Face ID. It uses Touch ID, with the sensor located on the right side. This is the first time a flagship iPhone has used a fingerprint sensor, though the technology remains on the iPhone SE, iPads, and MacBooks.
The thinness of the device likely drove the design choice. The Dynamic Island remains, relocated to the top-right edge near the outer selfie camera. It appears in the same corner on the inner display during live activities. Accessory users must adjust to the new shape. The Duo supports MagSafe, but it tips to one side when unfolded and attached to car docks or tripods due to uneven weight distribution. Third-party makers may need to add anti-rotation magnets to fix this issue.
Magnetic wallets attach securely but stick out past the bottom edge because the phone is shorter than other iPhones. Apple offers no official fix for this. Photography capabilities offer a distinct advantage. Users can take selfies using the superior rear cameras while previewing on the outer screen. A "Slide to show camera" control brings the full camera app to the outer display, disabling the inner screen to prevent accidental touches.
The phone includes "Duo Preview," which lets the subject see the viewfinder, and "Kids Cue," which plays Snoopy animations to attract a child's attention. Multitasking allows users to drag an app from the bottom to either side of the inner screen to run two apps side by side. Tapping the middle bar locks the two apps as a pair, accessible from the Recent apps menu, though they cannot be saved as a single icon.
Users must handle the inner display with care. Apple states that the matte nano-texture finish is an "integral" component. The company's support page warns users not to attempt to remove it. Doing so could void the warranty. Apple does not address third-party screen protectors, which might hurt display performance. A damaged finish can be replaced for $19 with AppleCare+ or $49 out of warranty. A cracked inner display costs $999 without AppleCare+.
Upcoming software updates will add more features. The keyboard can already be split to make typing easier on the wide display. A later update this year will add Reachability, shifting apps to the left or right instead of pulling them down. Another update will add support for the USB-C Apple Pencil. That is the only model supported, and it should make writing feel paper-like on the nano-texture screen. There is no place to store the stylus on the phone.
