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Apple unfolded its new iPhone this week, and we’re still trying to wrap our heads around it. The folding iPhone Duo, revealed at the tech company’s Surprise and Shine event Wednesday, was far from a surprise — and, in a sense, not all that new, since other phone makers have been folding their phones for years.
Still, the rumors were one thing. Seeing the real deal — which is available for preorder Oct. 16 and in stores Oct. 23 — is something entirely different. And once new CEO John Ternus gave us the first look at the $2,000 passport-style gadget, the tech experts at CNET had plenty to say. Here’s a glimpse at what we’re thinking. Like the apps on a folding phone, we aren’t always on the same page.
Maybe buy the iPhone Duo, but not this iPhone Duo
Having doubts about the crease? Maybe wait to see how the first batches of folding iPhones hold up before spending $2,000 on an experiment, CNET Reporter Katelyn Chedraoui says.
Read more: Apple’s iPhone Duo Is an Engineering Marvel, but Should You Buy 1st Gen?
Is this an iPad Mini killer?
Sometimes you want a phone for phone tasks and something a little bigger for slightly-larger-than-phone tasks. CNET Senior Consumer Insights Editor Dashia Milden wonders if the iPhone Duo can do the job of both — and if that spells doom for the company’s smallest tablet.
Read more: Bye-Bye, iPad. The iPhone Duo Could Be the All-in-One You Need
A familiar touch… ID
For some reason, having my phone scan my face creeps me out more than having it scan my fingerprint. The iPhone Duo’s inclusion of Touch ID, which hasn’t been on an iPhone for four years, was one of CNET Senior Editor Lori Grunin’s favorite things about the event.
Read more: My Favorite Things From Apple’s iPhone 18 Event
Sure, you can stand it up, but this isn’t a smart display
We saw a lot of examples from Apple of people propping the iPhone Duo up like a tent and using it as a home display. But that’s no replacement for an actual smart home display, says CNET Senior Editor Tyler Lacoma.
Read more: Sorry, Apple, but the iPhone Duo Isn’t the Smart Display I’m Waiting For
Is the crease still a thing?
The dreaded crease. It’s the most annoying thing about folding phones. But did Apple engineer it into nonexistence? CNET Director of Content Patrick Holland could see it… barely.
Read more: I Saw the iPhone Duo’s Crease. Barely
Finally, an iPhone with a stylus
Apple has its own branded stylus, the Apple Pencil, but the company has long resisted letting you use that on the iPhone. The iPhone Duo puts an end to that, writes CNET Senior Editor Matt Elliott. Is the rest of the lineup next?
Read more: It’s iPhone Duo Users Who Will Want a Stylus
How does it compare?
What about those other folding phones? We’ve drawn up the key comparisons between the iPhone Duo and rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, although it’ll take some hands-on time with all these devices to see what really stands out.
Read more: iPhone Duo vs. Pixel 11 Pro Fold: 2 Durable Foldables Face Off
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