Apple iPhone Duo Review: Apple has finally launched its first foldable iPhone. The most special thing that is felt when the iPhone Duo is held in hand for the first time is that despite being foldable, it looks completely like an iPhone. There is no need to learn any new method to use it. The phone looks compact when closed and as soon as it is opened, the experience of the big screen changes completely. However, its price of around ₹3 lakh makes it a luxury smartphone.

Design and hinge won hearts
When closed, the iPhone Duo is quite compact for a foldable phone. It has a 5.4 inch external display, which makes it easy to use the phone with one hand. Its passport-like design makes it convenient to hold and carry.

Apple has given Grade 5 Titanium frame and hinge cover in the phone. Ceramic Shield 2 is available at the front and Ceramic Shield at the back. The weight of the phone when opened is 254 grams. The most impressive thing is its hinge, which opens and closes easily without applying much force. The phone can also be used at different angles. Also, IP68 rating protects it from water and dust.

display and crease
When you open the phone, you get a 7.6 inch Super Retina XDR display. The large screen provides ample space for watching videos, gaming and multitasking. Both displays support ProMotion refresh rate up to 120Hz, Always-On Display, and Outdoor Peak Brightness up to 3,000 nits.

The biggest feature of the inner screen is its crease. Crease is present, but very less noticeable in initial use. The Nano-Texture finish also reduces reflections and glare on the screen. Apple has hidden the inner FaceTime camera under the display, so that the punch-hole is not visible on the big screen.

Strong performance from A20 Pro chipset
The new A20 Pro chipset is provided in iPhone Duo, which is built on 2nm process. It has six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple has also provided a custom Vapor Chamber Thermal System for better long-term performance.

The phone feels fast and smooth in initial use. Apps open quickly and switching between the external and internal screens is easy. iOS 27 has been designed for larger screens, which makes multitasking better.

Camera is good, but lags behind Pro models
The phone has a 48MP Dual Fusion Camera System, which includes 48MP main and 48MP Ultra-Wide cameras. The main camera also offers a 2x Optical-Quality Telephoto option. The camera takes good detailed pictures. Due to the foldable design, better selfies can be taken with the rear camera by using the external screen as a camera preview. However, at a price of around ₹3 lakh, the camera system doesn’t seem as advanced as Apple’s Pro models.

battery and price
Apple claims that the iPhone Duo can deliver 31 hours of video playback on the inner screen and 44 hours on the outer screen. There is also a claim that fast charging can charge up to 50 percent in about 20 minutes. The starting price of iPhone Duo in India is ₹2,99,900. The phone comes in storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB.

Verdict: What to buy?
At first glance the iPhone Duo looks to be a very polished foldable phone. Its hinge is great, creases are less visible, the display is large and the A20 Pro is very powerful. Despite the good camera, the Pro models at this price can provide a better camera experience.

If you want Apple’s newest and most premium foldable experience, the Duo is an attractive option. But the price tag of around ₹3 lakh makes it an expensive luxury upgrade for the average iPhone user.