The Wall Street Journal‘s Joanna Stern got her hands on Apple’s long-rumored iPhone Duo foldable smartphone at Apple Park and walked away impressed and loaded with kitchen-scale comparisons. The iPhone Duo, which ships in October starting at $1,999, is Apple’s biggest hardware change to the iPhone in years. Closed, Stern says it is a little smaller than a Pop-Tart, about the size of a passport or kitchen sponge, and similar in footprint to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 — though she found the Apple device a bit beefier and sturdier. Unfolded, the inner display measures 7.6 inches, roughly an iPad mini that fits in a pocket. The cover screen is 5.4 inches. Apple spent heavily on the inner screen. Stern reported no visible crease even when the device was bent or fully folded, unlike the obvious crease on the Z Fold 8. The inner display is matte rather than glossy, which she called her favorite feature. The hinge produces a satisfying click when closed. One-handed use in tablet mode is possible but awkward for those with smaller hands. 
Hardware trade-offs are clear. There is no Face ID; the power button doubles as a fingerprint sensor. The rear cameras are limited to wide and ultrawide — no telephoto, which Stern called the biggest hardware disappointment. A camera hidden behind the inner display is designed for selfies and FaceTime. Software is the main reason to buy one. Split-screen multitasking works like a simplified iPad: Safari and Messages can run side by side. Apple redesigned several first-party apps with two-pane layouts. The interface also changes with the fold angle, turning the device into a small laptop-style stand. Video watching benefits from the larger canvas. Apple claims all-day battery life: up to 31 hours of video on the inner display and 44 hours on the outer. Naturally, Stern said real-world battery testing is still needed, but Apple’s battery claims are historically lower than actual use. After years of skipping foldables and planning to buy the iPhone 18 Pro as usual, Stern said she is now considering the Duo. Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon. The post ‘I see no crease whatsoever’ – WSJ’s Joanna Stern hands-on with Apple’s iPhone Duo appeared first on MacDailyNews. You're currently a free subscriber to MacDailyNews. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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