iPhone Duo: everything you need to know/review
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From £1,999 (256GB to 2TB) · Brand New
Apple has finally released its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, a name that nods towards its long-awaited two screens.
Landing on the 23rd of October and priced higher than any iPhone before, there’s a question that’s on everyone’s minds… is it worth it?
So, here’s everything you need to know; price, specs, what the reviewers truly think and how it works, whether you’re using it to capture photos, carry out work calls or to watch a film on your long-haul flight.
What people are loving
What people are critiquing
How much is the iPhone Duo in the UK?
With a starting price of £1,999, it makes it the most expensive Phone that Apple has ever sold, sitting at £800 more than the iPhone 18 Pro.
| Storage | UK price | Monthly (30 months, 0% APR) |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB | £1,999 | £66.63 |
| 512GB | £2,199 | £73.30 |
| 1TB | £2,599 | £86.63 |
| 2TB | £3,199 | £106.63 |
The duo comes in just two colours; star white and Night Sky, and Apple sells its own case to fit the new design and a folio with a built-in kickstand.
Design and screens
When closed, the Duo functions as a regular one-handed phone with a 4.5-inch outer screen. However, open it like a book, and it transforms into the 7.6-inch display, the biggest iPhone Apple has ever made.
It’s both shorter and wider than most book-style foldables, with many reviewers comparing it to the size of a passport… may your new essential for your travels.
A few details worth noting
Both screens share the same shape, meaning apps can flow from one screen onto another without any awkward resizing. The inner screen also has a matte nano-texture, meaning that the glare outdoors is cut through the finish whilst helping hide the creases.
The iPhone Duo is also Apple Pencil compatible, meaning you can sketch and scribble notes just like you would on an iPad.
Performance, battery and camera
Running on the same chip as the iPhone 18 Pro (the A20 chip), the Duo means you are not paying for extra speed but for the screens and the hinge. It has been praised for handling everything smoothly, from using a split screen to gaming online.
The battery has been split by Apple between both halves of the phone, quoting up to 31 hours of video on the inner screen, 44 hours on the outer, or around 24 hours if you use both equally. This has been tested in the real world, lasting 13 hours 20 minutes at a time that’s solid for a foldable; however definitely short of the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s 17 1/2 hours. Fast charging can get you to 50% in about 20 minutes; however, that would require a 60 Watt adapter, which is sold separately from the phone.
Real-world screen-on time, tested
The iPhone Duo has 2 rear cameras: a 48MP main and a 48MP ultrawide, both shared with the iPhone 18 Pro. What’s missing, camera-wise, is a dedicated telephoto lens; instead, you get a 2x crop from the main sensor.
Videos can go up to 4K at 120 FPS, so for everyday photos it’s more than enough; however, if you are accustomed to zooming in on far-away subjects, then perhaps the Pro models are still the better camera
What no SIM tray means for you
The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only: it doesn’t have a SIM tray. Therefore, you cannot put in a physical SIM, whether it’s your home SIM or a local card purchased when travelling. The decision to ditch the SIM tray was to free up space for the bigger battery, and while initially you may think this is a hassle, it is actually mostly good news, and here is how it works
What the reviewers are saying
Early critic reviews are coming back broadly positive, with many calling it the best foldable that you can buy. With TechRadar scoring it a 4.8/5 and PCMag giving it a 4.5/5, it’s sitting comfortably within the ratings.
The crease is an aspect which is getting the most praise, with testers saying it’s easier to feel it than to see it.
The verdict: should you buy the iPhone Duo?
If you want a device that can offer you both a phone that can fit in your pocket and a mini tablet, then the Duo is a must-have, especially as arguably the most polished foldable yet. It offers a big screen for films, reading and multitasking, a hinge that finally hides the crease, and a battery that can take you through a full day.
However, priced at £1,999, it’s a luxury. If you are buying a phone because you mostly care about the camera and battery, then perhaps the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max can provide you with more for less.
