If you weren’t able to preorder an iPhone Duo last week, you’re out of luck until January — but come Friday, you’ll finally be able to walk into an Apple Store and try out the new foldable phone. It’s possibly the most exciting product the company has released in a long time. Whether you want to try it before you buy or are just curious about how it works and feels in your hands, the wait is almost over.
But what should you be looking to do when you actually pick up the iPhone Duo? While the foldable phone might have a fun, unique design, you may run into things you’re unfamiliar with — or even dislike — when using it day to day. You’ll want to be confident that the device is a good fit for your needs before plunking down $2,000 or more for the folding phone.
We’re going to break down a series of things you should check out when you finally get to play with it at the Apple Store.
More from CNET
The opening animation
When the Duo was first revealed, Apple showed off a very intriguing animation when you unfold the it. Leave it to Apple to make a function so simple look so aesthetically pleasing.
It’ll likely be the first thing you notice when you first open the Duo up to see its inner display, and there’s a good chance you’ll continue to open and close the device to see the effect. At the end of the day, it’s a parlor trick — but a very good one, adding delight to ordinary use.
Admire the matte screen and minimal crease
Foldables, well, fold, and they typically come with creases. The Duo has a minimal crease and a matte display, both of which are wins. That said, even the most noticeable creases tend to “disappear” when you’re viewing content — you just get used to them while watching TV shows or YouTube videos. The Duo’s minimal crease should be even easier to ignore.
And let’s not forget about the matte screen. Several foldables ship with glossy displays, but the iPhone Duo will have a less shiny screen, making it easier to view in bright environments without annoying reflections.
Watch videos
The outer passport-size display on the iPhone Duo may be a little awkward for watching videos because of how it crops content to fit the new aspect ratio. Still, it’s handy to prop the phone up in tent mode and watch shows that way. You also have a large inner display to work with, but because of its passport-style design, even that screen has a different aspect ratio than the widescreen format people are used to on regular phones, so there will likely be some letterboxing in videos.
Try watching something with the phone set up in both ways to see if it bothers you enough to dissuade you from buying the phone.
Again, it’s not an iPhone Duo issue but a foldable phone issue — the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the same size and format. The aspect ratio of the display might crop the top or sides of videos, so it’s worth trying out if you expect to watch a lot of full-screen videos.
See how apps act in different orientations
Like videos, apps on foldables can sometimes appear a little weird, and that could be the case with the iPhone Duo‘s aspect ratio. When you’re at the Apple Store, check out how your most-used apps look and feel on both the inner and outer displays, and make sure you rotate the inner screen to see how apps behave in this orientation, too — that wide screen could be great for watching vertical videos or scrolling through social media.
If some apps, such as Instagram, look a little different or are wonky, it’ll hopefully be just a matter of time until the developers make an update that optimizes the experience for this new design. Keep in mind that you can also have two apps open onscreen at once, making it easier to multitask.
Explore the cameras
If you want the best camera experience on an iPhone right now, you should be looking at the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, but that doesn’t make the Duo a slouch for shooting photos, either.
Yes, the Duo is missing a third camera (telephoto), and if that’s important to you, then you probably shouldn’t even be considering Apple’s foldable. But still, if you’re going to shell out this much money for a new phone, test out those cameras — even if it’s in a controlled environment like an Apple Store.
Another thing to check out before you pull the trigger is your selfie shots with this new phone. There are two main ways to do this: with the phone closed, holding it up in the regular way you’d take a selfie using the outer screen’s 12-megapixel front-facing camera, or with the inner display open and shooting with the twin 48-megapixel rear cameras (the outer screen will show a preview of the shot).
There’s also a front-facing camera underneath the inner display, which is mostly for video calls — and which we suspect would produce the least-impressive shots from the device. Try them all and see what you think of the pics. And since you’re at an Apple Store, make sure you delete them afterward.
Apple/Screenshot by CNETTry typing on both displays
The odd but interesting aspect ratio of the front display on the iPhone Duo may be a little awkward for typing, so it’s best to do a typing test when you have one in front of you. While the inner display will provide a roomier and more comfortable typing experience, you probably won’t want to have to open up the Duo every time you want to shoot off a quick text to someone. If you have bigger hands, typing on the front screen could be a bit of a nightmare.
Typing one-handed on the small cover screen should be manageable, but try it out to see if it works for you. Some may find it convenient; others may find it cumbersome.
And when you’re typing on the inner display, try the Duo in both portrait and landscape orientations to see which feels better. You can also choose between a split keyboard and larger keys. It’s thoughtful of Apple to offer options that let you tailor the typing experience to your preferences, but you may find that none of them suit your style.