Apple's $1,999 foldable earns 8.8 out of 10 at Engadget and a more mixed verdict at The Verge. Here is where the two reviews agree and differ.
Apple's first foldable phone has reached reviewers, and the verdicts are favorable but not unqualified. Engadget calls the iPhone Duo "a first-class foldable" and gives it 8.8 out of 10. The Verge describes it as "a messy, expensive, good time." Both scores and opinions here belong to those outlets, not to Savvy VibeZ, and we have not tested the phone ourselves.
Design and displays
The Duo costs $1,999. Engadget details a 5.4-inch outer OLED display and a 7.6-inch inner panel, both with the same 1:1.4 aspect ratio, 120Hz ProMotion and peak brightness up to 3,000 nits. The inner screen has a matte nanotexture finish that cuts reflections and hides the crease. Engadget says a small divot is there if you look from the right angle, and warns that the layer can be damaged if picked at, with a $49 replacement fee.
The Verge agrees the matte inner display is a highlight, though it notes you can still feel the crease. It says the passport-like, wide shape is Apple's riskiest decision, and that it makes the inner screen better for 16:9 video but the cover screen too small for vertical apps like TikTok.
Build, battery and cameras
Engadget praises the titanium chassis and a hinge it says is among the nicest it has used on a foldable, plus an IP68 rating. Instead of Face ID, the Duo uses a Touch ID sensor in the side button. In Engadget's video rundown test the phone lasted 28 hours 48 minutes, slightly longer than a Galaxy Z Fold 8 at 28:14, and Apple quotes up to 50 percent charge in 20 minutes with a 60W adapter.
The two outlets differ on cameras. Engadget found the dual 48-megapixel rear setup kept up with the Z Fold 8 and sometimes beat it in low light. The Verge says the cameras are just OK.
The catches
Both reviewers point to weight and price. The Verge also lists heat as a drawback. Engadget says many apps still need optimizing for the Duo's shape, though Netflix, Instagram and OpenTable already have.
The Verge's summary is that the Duo will delight gadget fans and early adopters and likely frustrate everyone else, while Engadget concludes that, despite the cost and weight, it has been worth the wait.
Picture credit: Apple
