A hands-on assessment finds Apple’s first foldable iPhone makes a convincing case for its larger display, while uneven app support and the loss of Face ID remain notable drawbacks.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone appears to have answered the practical objections that mattered most to early sceptics, even if it has not removed every compromise. In a hands-on assessment published by AppleInsider, the writer said the biggest questions were not about the crease or the battery, but about MagSafe, Face ID and whether the software could make the new format feel genuinely useful. Those concerns now seem less serious than expected, although the device still looks like one that will divide buyers.
MagSafe, at least on paper, is not the problem some rumours suggested. Apple’s own technical specifications say the iPhone Duo supports MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging at up to 25W, and that it includes a magnet array with NFC accessory identification. Apple has also begun selling first-party MagSafe accessories for the model, alongside chargers and cases tailored to its unusual shape. In use, AppleInsider found that the phone sits properly on existing docks when closed, while landscape placement can trigger StandBy mode. The bigger limitation is compatibility with accessories built around a more conventional slab-shaped handset, particularly some wallets and battery packs, although third-party makers are already responding with accessories made for the Duo’s smaller footprint.
The software story is more encouraging. AppleInsider said the device feels less like a novelty once used as a daily machine, especially because Apple has added features that take advantage of the extra display area rather than merely enlarging familiar interfaces. StandBy mode now offers more variants, including weather with live animation, a new calendar display and a modular clock face. It also works when the device is propped up in portrait orientation or tent mode, not only while charging in landscape. Split-screen app handling is described as intuitive, and the folding animation itself still feels polished enough to justify the format.
That said, app support remains uneven, and the experience is still dependent on developers updating their software. AppleInsider noted that some apps make full use of the side-by-side layout, while others leave the user with awkward black borders and spacing that betrays the handset’s early-generation status. The pattern is familiar from Apple’s past product launches: the hardware arrives before the ecosystem has fully caught up.
The biggest unresolved issue is authentication. Apple has replaced Face ID with Touch ID built into the side button, according to Apple’s specifications and subsequent reporting from MacRumors and The Mac Observer. Apple Watch owners can use the watch to unlock the phone when the wrist is detected nearby and the watch is unlocked, which makes the process faster and less intrusive. Even so, AppleInsider said Touch ID still feels like a step backwards in some situations, and the writer suggested that a second-generation model may need a more elegant solution. The overall verdict is cautiously positive: the iPhone Duo seems to be a credible first attempt, but it is likely to suit enthusiasts and early adopters more than the average buyer.
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