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First, it’s important to explain how these articles and videos are made. Following each keynote, Apple opens a demonstration area to a select group of media and invited creators, carefully chosen by the brand.
These individuals are trusted by Apple to do a thorough job, even though they only have between thirty minutes and an hour with the device, in controlled lighting, without the ability to take it outside, charge it, drop it, or compare it directly to other devices. Engadget reports that they were asked not to photograph the iPhone Duo next to a Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Therefore, we are reading initial impressions, not thorough reviews. Numerama, part of our group and a follower of Apple’s events, is among them, and their article sets the scene right in the title.
The interesting part is the consensus. Eight first-hand accounts, two in French and six in English, agree on three points. On a fourth, everyone expresses reservations. The rest, like battery life, low-light photography, and hinge durability, remains unverified, which is exactly what we expect from a full review. For a complete spec sheet and the four French prices, please refer to our evening articles.
The Matte Screen: A Point of Universal Agreement
The number one surprise, unanticipated by leaks, is the nanotextured finish of the inner display. Nicolas Lellouche from Numerama describes it as “by far the most readable display in the history of foldable smartphones,” likening the experience to “holding a color e-reader.” He tried “everything” yet failed to see the crease, although he notes it’s “likely visible under certain lighting conditions.”
JB from TheiCollection, also present, emphasizes that the demo units have been continuously opened and closed for hours without showing any marks, and the crease is “barely perceptible” under the finger, “much less so” than on Samsung, Huawei, or Xiaomi models (he hasn’t tried the Xiaomi 18 Fold yet).
Similarly, English-speaking reviewers echo this sentiment. Allison Johnson and Dominic Preston from The Verge report that the crease is almost undetectable by touch, and the display copes well with the light from the room’s skylights. Sam Rutherford at Engadget confirms there’s a slight dip in the center, “easier to feel than see” (translated). Abrar Al-Heeti from CNET finds it even less visible than on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which also features an anti-reflective treatment.
However, two reservations emerge. Tom Honeyands from The Tech Chap notes that nanotexture, as seen on the MacBook Pro and Studio Display, visibly reduces contrast, possibly making films appear less “punchy” than on a glossy screen. Judner Aura from UrAvgConsumer films demonstrators wiping the screens and predicts that the display will collect fingerprints. Apple has staked a lot on this surface, and these are the two questions to ask as soon as one can use a Duo outdoors, in direct sunlight, for a week straight.
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Under-Screen Camera and Opening Animation: Two Magical Features
Second point of convergence is the under-display FaceTime camera. Samsung attempted this on the Z Fold 3 in 2021 before abandoning it.
Numerama deems the gamble “bold” and the quality “adequate,” with reservations about how it might perform in a dark room. UrAvgConsumer took a photo using it and describes the result as “not bad,” a bit soft with some sharpening. Engadget notes that the area is only noticeable when looking for the bright pixels above the sensor on an otherwise matte display. SuperSaf, who tested the sensors, estimates a resolution of about 4 megapixels and reminds us that Apple never discusses photography for this camera, only FaceTime. No one has been able to test the sensor in low light, which is exactly where Samsung had failed.
Thirdly, the software, and this is where the praise is most effusive. The transition from the external to the internal screen, with its blur effect and progressive focus, is described as an “artwork” by Engadget (translated) and “beautiful” by TheiCollection, who finds it even more impressive in person than in video.
CNET notes a practical detail: on the Duo, content almost immediately shifts upon opening, whereas the Fold 8 waits until it’s half-open. Numerama finds the status bar and dock shifted to the right “thumb-accessible,” but wonders if Apple “might be going too far” and whether these choices will survive future updates. UrAvgConsumer laments the inability to move this sidebar to the left, and its screen-consuming size. The half-closed tabletop mode with controls at the bottom is mentioned by everyone, with Numerama noting that Samsung abandoned it on the Fold 8 while Apple is bringing it back.
On multitasking, CNET points out a limitation: two apps side by side on the Duo, three on the Fold 8, even though she admits to sticking with two in practice. The Tech Chap jokes about Apple’s enthusiasm for a Split View “we’ve had for a while on other smartphones.” Engadget details the drag-and-drop of files from one app to another and the memorizable app pairs, concluding that it’s the software that justifies the seven-year wait. Regarding what it changes compared to the 18 Pro in use, we’ve compared the compromises.
254 Grams: The Critique Everyone Agrees On
Apple did not announce the weight or thickness on stage, and it quickly became clear why in the demo room. The Tech Chap calls it his “biggest problem so far”: 254 grams, over 50 more than a Galaxy Fold 8, “a hefty little chunk” once closed (very loosely translated from “chunky monkey”). Engadget finds it “noticeably heavier and thicker” than the Fold 8, which it places at 201 grams and 9.7 mm closed, compared to 11.3 mm for the Duo. SuperSaf does the same math and notes that the Duo weighs about as much as an 18 Pro Max. CNET is the only one to write that titanium keeps it “light,” which, at 254 grams, seems like Californian optimism.
Numerama raises a question stemming from the use of titanium: heat conduction. A full metal frame conducts heat better, and no one has been able to run a game for ten minutes. TheiCollection and The Tech Chap also note that the polished mirror titanium marks fingerprints like the iPhone Air. On the other hand, everyone praises the IP68 rating, which Samsung still doesn’t have on its foldables, and the fact that the hinge doesn’t budge. The Verge finds it “smooth,” CNET describes a “silky” feeling when opening and closing it repeatedly. Regarding real durability, the consensus is general: The Tech Chap wonders if the matte screen will scratch, Numerama if the crease will appear over time, and none of the eight have the answer. We’ve listed the seven compromises of the Duo and what a V2 might fix, with weight prominently featured.
Photography: The Accepted Compromise, Except for Those Who Tested an 18 Pro Just Before
The lack of a telephoto lens surprises no one, as leaks had predicted it for months. What disappoints is the rest. Numerama had hoped that the two 48-megapixel sensors would “have the functions of the iPhone 18 Pro” and notes that they lack “variable aperture, pro mode, and the new cinematic effects.” Their interpretation is clear: Apple has built two phones for two audiences, the 18 Pro for photography and battery life, the Duo for the screen and style. TheiCollection states more bluntly, two sensors are “limited for an iPhone at this price,” recalling that Xiaomi includes three on its foldable. Engadget particularly misses a real zoom like that of the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but appreciates that the photo module, running the entire width of the back, allows the phone to be placed flat without tipping over. SuperSaf attributes to the main sensor an aperture of ƒ/1.6, a figure Apple has not published and we keep conditional.
One point deserves mention, as it highlights the limits of the format: SuperSaf mentions “manual controls” in the Camera app, while according to Apple’s sheet, Pro controls are reserved for the 18 Pro. In a room where both models circulate and everyone has an hour, the confusion is understandable. That’s also why we don’t publish a verdict at this stage. Exclusive uses, however, are unanimous: Duo Preview displaying camera feedback on the external screen, Smart Take triggering alone when everyone is posing, Kid Cue and its Peanuts animations, three-way Duo FaceTime. TheiCollection and CNET each recall, on their part, that Android foldables have offered equivalents for years, CNET citing the Pixel Fold’s “Made You Look.” What the A20 Pro does for Smart Take locally is the only new argument.
Price, Verdicts, and What No One Could Verify
At $1,999, the American press finds the Duo cheaper than feared
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.