Is the iPhone Duo a gimmick or is time to join the foldable revolution? SHIVALI BEST tests Apple's £2,000 device to find out if two screens are really better than one

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After months of anticipation, Apple finally unveiled its first foldable iPhone last month – the iPhone Duo.

The device folds open like a book, transforming from a regular–sized smartphone into a mini tablet, with a bigger screen for multitasking, watching videos and getting things done.

But is it just a £2,000 gimmick, or is it finally time to embrace the dual–screen life?

The iPhone Duo goes on sale this Friday, October 23, with pre–orders already selling out.

However, the Daily Mail's Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best, was among the first to get her hands on the device and has spent the past week putting it through its paces.

If you're simply looking for a new smartphone, Apple's flagship iPhone 18 Pro may be the better choice. It boasts a more advanced camera system and starts at £1,199 – £800 less than the Duo.

But if you regularly switch between your phone and a tablet, the Duo could be the perfect hybrid device you've been waiting for.

Design 

Ahead of its launch, rumours were flying left, right and centre about the design for the foldable iPhone. 

In the end, Apple opted for a book–style design, with a 5.4–inch outer display, and a 7.6–inch inner folding display. 

While this sounds like it might be clunky, in practice, it's absolutely stunning. 

When it's closed, the iPhone Duo has a wider, shorter design than a standard iPhone, with a straight edge down the left–hand–side, and curved corners on the right. 

Crucially, I can confirm that it slides into both the front and back pockets of a women's pair of jeans with ease – something that prospective buyers have raised concerns about across social media.

Having tested various other foldable smartphones, I half expected to be greeted by a dreaded crease down the middle of the iPhone Duo when I opened it up. 

However, Apple has managed to avoid this much–hated feature by opting for a nano–texture finish on the inner screen. 

This finish creates a matte surface that minimises crease visibility and reduces glare. 

It's noticeably different to most iPhones, and does take some getting used to, but I really like it – it feels lovely to the touch, and will make using the device in bright sunshine much easier. 

The opened screen is also impressively thin, measuring just 5.2mm thick, making it even thinner than last year's iPhone Air. 

One feature that did slightly irritate me, however, is the fact that the iPhone Duo does not lay flat when the screen is fully open, thanks to the raised rear camera bump. 

When you're trying to type with the smartphone laid on a flat surface, the whole thing rocks backwards and forwards, making a knocking noise in the process. 

You can rectify this by folding it to a right angle and just typing on one side, but if you prefer typing across a full–screen keyboard, this could be an issue.   

Functionality

The outer screen's display looks much like a standard iPhone at first glance – but there are some key differences. 

To compensate for the shorter screen, Apple has moved the dock from the bottom to the right–hand side of the screen. 

On the homescreen, this isn't really an issue, although I do find myself second guessing where my Phone, Messages and Camera app are from time–to–time. 

What's more, Apple has optimised the layout of its own native apps so they fit the entire screen. 

However, where this becomes a problem is when using non–native apps. 

Opening up TikTok – one of my most–used apps – I was disappointed to discover an unsightly black bar down the right–hand side of the screen, which is fairly distracting while you're scrolling through your feed. 

Other popular apps are plagued with the same issue, with Outlook also displaying the same black bar. 

I'm sure these apps will optimise their layouts for the unusual screen size over time, but at the moment it makes using your favourites rather jarring. 

Having the dock on the right–hand–side also makes the iPhone tricky to use for left–handers. 

When closed, you can just about stretch your left thumb across to the dock, but when the iPhone Duo is open, even people with enormous hands will struggle to reach it. 

Another feature that definitely takes some getting used to is Touch ID, which lets you unlock the iPhone Duo using a side button. 

With Apple using its facial recognition system, Face ID, in iPhones since 2017, I can't help but feel like this is a backwards step. 

I'm sure you'd get used to it eventually, but during my week with the iPhone Duo, I often found myself staring at the screen, wondering why it wouldn't simply unlock by scanning my face. 

Opening up the screen, I really like the transition from the front display to the inner one. 

As you slowly open it up, the front screen begins to blur while the inner screen fades into view, bringing whatever content you were looking at on the closed device across to the main screen. 

However, the opening process itself isn't exactly smooth, and it takes quite a bit of force to pry it open with two hands. 

I tried opening it with one hand and it was a real struggle – while doing a dramatic, 90s–style slam shut will also leave you unsatisfied. 

Split View 

Where the iPhone Duo really shines is in Split View mode, in which you can have two apps running side–by–side. 

This is hugely helpful for those situations where you need information from two sources at the same time.

For example, I needed to transfer money to a friend, who had sent me her bank details over on WhatsApp. 

Instead of flicking back and forth between my banking app and WhatsApp as I entered her details, I simply opened both apps at the same time and tapped in the Sort Code and Account Number without fuss. 

Meanwhile, while replying to an email asking about my availability for a meeting, I could get my calendar up on the other side of the screen, rather than flicking between the two. 

While this makes juggling tasks much easier, concerns have been raised on social about how Split View might fuel 'brain rot'. 

Several previous studies have linked heavy media multitasking with poorer attention in some groups, although the evidence is mixed.

Cameras

The iPhone Duo has three cameras – two rear lenses (a 48MP main camera and a 8MP ultra–wide camera), and one 12MP selfie camera on the front of the device.

This might be disappointing if you've previously used one of the Pro iPhones.

Apple has been putting three rear cameras on its Pro iPhones since 2019, when it introduced the iPhone 11 Pro. 

So the Duo's two rear cameras represent a step down in hardware from the Pro range – despite the £2,000 price tag.

However, unless you're a pro photographer, don't let this put you off too much – the two rear lenses are more than capable of snapping decent photos. 

What's more, if you're a selfie fan, you'll be happy to hear that there are three different ways to snap photos of yourself. 

With the screen closed, you can snap yourself using the front–facing camera, while the inside camera can take shots of you when the screen is unfolded. 

If you'd prefer to use the rear camera, you can turn the unfolded device around and snap a selfie, with a preview shown on the opposite side. 

Cases

When the iPhone Duo was announced, one of the main questions being asked was 'how do you attach a case to it?'

Apple has come up with two designs, but I'm not sold on either. 

The iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand features a woven front and back, with a piece of leather–like material joining the two. 

While this version attaches magnetically, it feels quite old–fashioned, and makes the iPhone Duo feel really clunky. 

It's also £129, which you have to fork out on top of the hefty price of the iPhone Duo itself.

Alternatively, there's a polycarbonate case that comes in two parts and is slightly cheaper, at £79. 

Unfortunately, this feels really flimsy, and I found the front side in particular would regularly pop off the iPhone. 

If you're thinking about getting a case for your iPhone Duo, I would advise looking at third–party sellers like Mous.  

Price

The iPhone Duo is Apple's most expensive iPhone yet, costing between £1,999 and £3,199, depending on the storage. 

If you regard the iPhone Duo as yet another smartphone, this is a huge amount to pay – particularly if you compare it to the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, which range in price from £1,199 to £2,499. 

However, if you see it is an iPhone/iPad hybrid, you might be able to justify the price to yourself. 

The iPad Mini retails at £599–£899, which, combined with the price of an iPhone, could work out slightly more expensive than the iPhone Duo alone.

So, should you buy it? 

The iPhone Duo is a nifty gadget, but for me, it's just not as good as the iPhone 18 Pro. 

I really like the matte screen, the Split View mode, and the option to take selfies using the rear cameras. 

However, it's a real shame that more third–party apps aren't optimised for the unique screen size at launch.

The black bar across the side of the device is hugely distracting, and will likely put many potential buyers off.

If you're treating it as an iPad/iPhone hybrid, keep in mind that you're putting all your eggs in one basket.

If you want the convenience of a larger screen without carrying two devices, the Duo could be a compelling proposition. 

But if you prefer to use your phone and tablet separately, you're paying a premium for a folding design you may not need.