Apple iPhone Duo review: Five days with Apple's first foldable is it worth Rs 3 lakh?

Apple's entry into the foldable smartphone market has been long awaited, and the iPhone Duo marks the company's first attempt at this form factor. Naturally, expectations are high, particularly as competitors like Samsung and Google have spent years refining their foldable smartphones.

Apple introduced the iPhone Duo on September 9 this year, and The Economic Times Digital was present at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, where we brought you our first hands-on experience with the device.

The iPhone Duo made headlines for its design, matte-finish display and the software optimisation Apple is known for. But first impressions are one thing, and using a device as your primary smartphone is another.


We have now spent five days with the iPhone Duo, using it for everything from messaging and content consumption to gaming and work. This has given us a better understanding of what Apple's first foldable gets right and where it needs improvement.

And at a starting price of nearly Rs 3 lakh, there is plenty to discuss.

Price and availability in India

The iPhone Duo starts at Rs 2,99,900 for the 256GB variant. The 512GB version costs Rs 3,24,900, while the 1TB and 2TB variants are priced at Rs 3,74,900 and Rs 4,49,900, respectively.

Pre-orders opened in India on October 16, with sales beginning October 23. The initial allocation reportedly sold out within approximately an hour, with delivery estimates for subsequent orders extending into January 2027.

Design: Solid build, but some adjustments take time

Building on our initial experience in Cupertino, the iPhone Duo indeed comes with a solid build. Apple has used a Grade 5 titanium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 protection on the outer display and Ceramic Shield on the back. The device also carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

For a foldable smartphone, the Duo feels reassuringly sturdy. At no point during our testing did we feel that we needed to be particularly delicate while using it. The hinge feels solid, and the overall construction inspires confidence.

That being said, the price is difficult to ignore. When a smartphone costs nearly Rs 3 lakh, there is always going to be an element of caution while handling it. And the repair costs are also very high. We would highly recommend getting the Apple Care package with the device especially if you have a history of not being too careful with your devices.

Our review unit comes in the Night Sky colour, which is essentially a dark blue finish. Like most iPhones we have used, we would have preferred to use it without a case. However, given the price, we would recommend investing in one.

We have been using Apple's Folio with Kickstand, which costs approximately Rs 14,000. It offers protection and comes with a retractable stand, making it convenient to prop up the device for watching content. It is useful, although expensive, and we expect more affordable third-party alternatives to become available.

The Duo follows a passport-style design, making it wider than a conventional smartphone when folded. It sits comfortably in the hand, and the grip is good. At 254 grams, the weight initially took some getting used to, but over five days, we became considerably more comfortable with it.

There are, however, two design decisions that still require adjustment.

The first is the volume controls. When folded, the buttons sit along the top edge, but when unfolded, their position shifts to the side depending on how you hold the device. It takes some getting used to, particularly when switching frequently between the two modes.

The second is Touch ID.

Coming from an iPhone Pro, we have become accustomed to the convenience of Face ID. With the Duo, Apple has integrated a fingerprint sensor into the side button. It works well, but initially feels slower than simply looking at your phone to unlock it.

Neither is a deal-breaker, but both are adjustments existing iPhone users should keep in mind.

Display

The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch inner display, both using Super Retina XDR OLED technology with ProMotion support up to 120Hz. The inner display also gets a nano-texture finish designed to reduce reflections.

Display quality is impeccable, as one would expect from an iPhone. Colours, brightness and overall clarity are excellent on both screens.

During our testing, we predominantly used the cover display. The passport-style aspect ratio takes some time to adjust to, although this was not entirely new for us. We had previously spent considerable time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, which follows a similar book-style design.

The difference this time was that all our data was on the Duo. Messaging, browsing, watching videos and everyday applications were all handled on this device.

While the hardware is excellent, application optimisation still needs work.

For example, while watching YouTube on the cover display, we noticed a black bar along the side, accommodating interface elements. A similar issue was noticeable on Instagram.

It is initially distracting, although over time you stop noticing it as much. Nevertheless, we found ourselves unfolding the device more frequently to watch content.

The larger inner display is where the Duo becomes more enjoyable. Instagram works particularly well on it, benefiting from Meta's dedicated iPad application. Watching videos and browsing websites also become more comfortable.

Another highlight is the speaker setup. The stereo speakers are impressively loud, and combined with the larger display, make the Duo a good device for entertainment.

Multitasking, however, has limitations.

The Duo currently supports two applications running simultaneously through Split View, and not every application works equally well with the feature.

We predominantly used Notes and Photos side by side. This worked well for our workflow, particularly when drafting articles and referring to images to understand how the final output might look.

It is useful, but considering the multitasking flexibility offered by competing foldables, there is still room for improvement.

Software: Familiar, but third-party apps need attention

Software optimisation has always been one of Apple's biggest strengths, and the iPhone Duo demonstrates both the advantages and limitations of that approach.

The device boots up quickly, navigation feels familiar, and Apple's native applications work well across the two displays.

However, it becomes a mixed experience when you move to third-party applications.

As mentioned earlier, YouTube and Instagram still have optimisation issues on the cover display. Gmail, on the other hand, works well on the larger screen, benefiting from its existing iPad application.

These are areas where Apple and third-party developers need to put in more work, particularly for users who depend heavily on their smartphones for productivity. And indeed this is a fixable problem, which we are certain will be done looking back historically.

Thankfully, learning how to use the Duo is relatively easy.

Unlike the transition from the home-button iPhones to the iPhone X, which required users to learn a different navigation system, the Duo feels familiar almost immediately. We would say it takes barely half an hour to understand how the two displays work together.

One feature we particularly developed a liking for is StandBy mode.

The Duo can be propped up on a desk, turning it into a useful information display. We found it convenient for checking the time, calendar appointments and notifications, including email alerts, without having to constantly pick up the device.

Apple's established privacy and security features are also present, alongside its approach to long-term software support.

Overall, iOS 27 works well on the Duo, but third-party application optimisation still needs attention. This is something users who rely extensively on their smartphones should consider.

Performance: Flagship hardware delivers

The iPhone Duo runs on Apple's A20 Pro processor, built on a 2nm manufacturing process, paired with 12GB of RAM.

Performance during our five days of testing was excellent.

Whether we were switching between applications, browsing, editing documents or consuming content, the device remained responsive. We did not encounter any noticeable lag or stuttering.

We also spent considerable time gaming, particularly playing Call of Duty: Mobile.

The larger inner display makes gaming enjoyable, although the black bars we noticed in certain applications were also present here. That said, gameplay was smooth, and the device handled demanding sessions without any noticeable heating issues.

For everyday tasks and gaming, the Duo delivers the performance expected from a flagship iPhone.

One important detail is that the iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide. There is no physical SIM card slot, so buyers will need to ensure their mobile operator supports eSIM before making the switch.

Battery life: Easily one of its biggest strengths

Battery life has been one of the most impressive aspects of our experience with the iPhone Duo.

Despite powering two displays, the device offers excellent endurance.

During our testing, we found that the Duo could comfortably last two days with mild usage. Even with heavier usage, including gaming, watching videos, messaging and work-related applications, we could stretch it to approximately a day and a half.

These are particularly encouraging results for a foldable smartphone, where the larger display can place additional demands on the battery.

Apple claims up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer display and up to 31 hours on the inner display, although actual endurance naturally depends on usage patterns.

For users who prioritise battery life, the Duo makes a strong case for itself.

Camera: Good output, but the telephoto is missed

The iPhone Duo comes with a dual 48MP rear camera setup, comprising a 48MP Fusion Main camera with an f/1.6 aperture and a 48MP Ultra Wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture. There is also a 12MP Center Stage camera on the cover display and an under-display FaceTime camera on the inner screen.

One thing to remember is that this is not an iPhone Pro camera system. Apple has omitted the dedicated telephoto lens, and if you are coming from a Pro or Pro Max model, this is something you will notice.

That being said, camera performance is quite good.

During our testing, we found the main camera output comparable to what we have come to expect from an iPhone Pro for everyday photography. Photographs were detailed, low-light performance was solid, and video recording was particularly impressive.

The biggest limitation is zoom. While the main sensor offers 2x optical-quality zoom, the absence of a dedicated telephoto camera limits its versatility when photographing distant subjects.

The folding design introduces some interesting possibilities for photography and video recording.

For instance, you can partially unfold the Duo and place it on a flat surface to shoot hands-free, without requiring a separate tripod. Duo Preview also allows subjects to see themselves on the cover display while being photographed using the rear cameras.

However, we encountered a practical limitation with our existing camera accessories. The iPhone Duo does not fit into the conventional smartphone tripod mounts we normally use. A magnetic tripod that attaches to the back of the device proved to be a more convenient solution.

This is worth considering for creators who regularly use their smartphones to record videos.

From the selfie camera perspective, the cover display camera is genuinely impressive, but the facetime camera on the inner display isn’t of the best quality when you compare it to the other sensor. It’s doable for video calls but if you click many selfies and make content using the front camera, then we suggest rely on the cover display camera.

Overall, the camera system is capable, and we were particularly impressed by its video and low-light performance. But if telephoto photography is important to you, the iPhone 18 Pro series remains the more versatile option.

Verdict: Is the iPhone Duo worth Rs 2,99,900?

There are two categories of buyers we would like to address here.

The first includes those who consciously skipped the iPhone 18 Pro series and waited for the Duo. These are buyers who have the resources to comfortably spend nearly Rs 3 lakh on a smartphone. For them, the iPhone Duo is an interesting proposition. The battery life is excellent, the displays are impressive, and the foldable form factor makes everyday usage enjoyable. There are adjustments to make, particularly moving from Face ID to Touch ID, along with some software optimisation issues. But overall, this is a device we believe they will enjoy using.

The second category includes buyers who want the iPhone Duo primarily for its novelty or the status associated with owning Apple's most expensive smartphone. For those considering stretching their finances to afford it, our advice would be to reconsider. The Duo is certainly impressive, but it does not offer enough additional functionality over a conventional flagship iPhone to justify putting yourself under financial pressure. Unless you have a genuine use case for the larger display and foldable design, there is little reason to spend Rs 2,99,900 simply to own one.