iPhone Duo foldable compared with Android foldables, Digi Mart USA News: After reviewing almost every Android foldable released this year, The Verge’s reviewer found that Apple’s iPhone Duo holds its own against rivals on hardware but is let down by iOS itself. The reviewer said that Android is currently slicker for folding phones, though that may not last.
The Duo’s curved frame and Ceramic Shield back give it a polished feel that helps justify its $2,000 price tag. The hinge is smooth, opening and closing with a magnetic click.
However, the phone is heavier than all of its rivals, including ones with larger screens, which becomes obvious when using it one-handed.
The squat shape is shorter and wider than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and nearly identical in dimensions to Xiaomi’s 18 Fold. The short cover screen makes some apps awkward, and the IP68 rating is an advantage over much of the competition.
The reviewer also noted reports of hinge and display damage that are rare in recent Android foldables, though it is not clear how widespread Duo screen failures are.
The Duo’s standout feature is its matte “nano-texture” inner screen, which helps mask the crease. Its crease is more visible than Samsung’s and less visible than Google’s and Honor’s, while Oppo’s remains the best.
The under-display camera is more distracting than a regular selfie camera, and the Duo supports USB-C Apple Pencil stylus input.
The Duo has two 48-megapixel rear cameras, one main and one ultrawide, comparable to the Z Fold 8 but lacking the triple-camera setups found on most Android foldables. The reviewer found battery life good for a full day of mixed use, though it trails Honor’s Magic V6.
The biggest software problem is that many apps are not optimized for the Duo’s cover screen and right-hand rail. Some apps such as Bluesky and Duolingo appear in thin strips with large black bars, though updates from Google Maps, Google Translate and Instagram have improved matters, and Slack uses a two-column layout.
Navigation is also inconsistent, as the Duo lacks a persistent back-swipe gesture available on Android foldables.
Multitasking lags behind competitors. The Duo supports split-screen only in landscape mode with two apps at exactly half the display each, while Oppo offers fluid split-screen and floating windows and Xiaomi allows up to six apps side by side.
The reviewer concluded that while the Duo’s hardware is on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Android has the software advantage for now, and Apple may need to adapt to catch up.
