Michael Sherman|Published
Standing inside the bustling iStore at Sandton City Mall on launch day, there is one device everyone is trying to get their hands on: the all-new iPhone Duo.
Apple’s first-ever folding smartphone has officially arrived on South African shores, and I got a first look and hands-on experience with the device. Here are my initial impressions.
When anyone first looks at the iPhone Duo, the price is the very first thing that really sticks out. Starting at R48,000 for Apple’s first folding iPhone, it is a huge sum of money to fork out and a massive outlay.
But here is the crux of the matter: if you are at all considering this device, money probably is no object.
When you take out the price of the device, it is all about the experience that you get. Even on day one of the iPhone Duo release in South Africa, I can confidently say that it is already the best folding phone on the market — not just locally, but worldwide.
That is saying something, especially after rival manufacturers like Samsung have been producing folding phones for almost a decade. But that’s the thing about Apple, and in particular the Duo: it delivers a great user experience.
From unfolding it to folding it, the iPhone Duo offers a completely seamless experience. You can tell the designers put extra effort into the animations to make it feel like nothing else on the market. That is what separates it: it is a unique experience native to Apple and the iPhone Duo.
It is neither a traditional iPad nor a standard iPhone, but rather the perfect bridge between the two products.
When navigating iOS on the Duo, you quickly realise the hardware has been designed totally in unison with the software, which is why everything just feels so premium.
In no other foldable phone does it feel like you can continue what you were doing on the outer folded screen and transition to the unfolded display quite so seamlessly. Whether you are swapping through Safari, checking your mail, or taking notes, unfolding the device opens the app full-screen on the full display.
Once unfolded, you get an almost full-sized keyboard layout. Typing becomes much more comfortable with both thumbs compared to the thinner, taller aspect ratio found on a standard iPhone.
The versatility extends to how you position the device. Whether it is standing on its own, utilising the camera across both folded and unfolded screens, or propping it up half-folded on a nightstand to catch a quick episode of Netflix before bed, it delivers an unmatched experience.
Apple has also included nifty little touches that add up. For instance, when your alarm goes off, there is a glowing soft light designed specifically for low-light conditions. Instead of a bright phone screen flashing aggressively in your face when you wake up, it offers a gentle, subtle wake-up light before or as the audio begins.
It’s these little things — and there are so many of them — that ultimately add up to a lot.
Ultimately, if you are worried about the price tag of the iPhone Duo, this phone is simply not for you.
However, for those who want to make a statement and desire a foldable experience merged with an iPhone like no other, the iPhone Duo should already be in your basket.