I took two iPhones on vacation. The Duo won me over.
News Source
β’Sat, 31 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000
π° What Happened
A TechCrunch reporter took Apple's new iPhone Duo on a five-day holiday, plus her own iPhone 17 Pro Max as a backup. By the end, she did not want to switch back.
The Duo is a small, square-ish phone that costs about $2,000. It brings back Touch ID and uses a new design. Some apps did not work well, and the small outer screen meant more scrolling.
It survived being sat on and dropped on concrete without cracking. The camera worried her enough to carry two phones, but she used the Duo most of the time.
π The Backstory
Apple has sold the same basic slab phone shape for years. The Duo is its attempt at something different, at a time when phone sales have slowed and prices have climbed.
Rivals such as Samsung have sold folding phones for years, but they remain a small part of the market. High prices and worries about durability have held buyers back.
For Apple, the Duo is a test. If enough people pay for a very different design, the company may push further in that direction.
π― Why It Matters
Phones are the computer most people own. A $2,000 device with a new shape changes what apps must do and what buyers expect for the money.
A TechCrunch reporter took Apple's new iPhone Duo on a five-day holiday, plus her own iPhone 17 Pro Max as a backup. By the end, she did not want to switch back.
The Duo is a small, square-ish phone that costs about $2,000. It brings back Touch ID and uses a new design. Some apps did not work well, and the small outer screen meant more scrolling.
It survived being sat on and dropped on concrete without cracking. The camera worried her enough to carry two phones, but she used the Duo most of the time.
Apple has sold the same basic slab phone shape for years. The Duo is its attempt at something different, at a time when phone sales have slowed and prices have climbed.
Rivals such as Samsung have sold folding phones for years, but they remain a small part of the market. High prices and worries about durability have held buyers back.
For Apple, the Duo is a test. If enough people pay for a very different design, the company may push further in that direction.
Phones are the computer most people own. A $2,000 device with a new shape changes what apps must do and what buyers expect for the money.