iPhone Duo Reviews Are In. Here's What MKBHD, The Verge, Engadget and the Rest Think

The reviews of iPhone Duo are out, two days before the first ones arrive on Friday, and the overall picture is fairly consistent. Most reviewers like it a lot, almost all of them think it's heavy and expensive, and several say it feels very much like a first attempt. Here's what the main reviews say, where they agree and disagree, and what it all means if you're thinking about one. I've linked every review so you can read them in full.

The short version

Reviewers broadly agree that Apple has done the hard parts well: the crease is hard to spot, the hinge feels excellent and battery life is better than many feared. Where they're less convinced is the weight, the cameras, how many apps are ready for the big inner screen yet, and whether it's worth £1,999 when an iPhone and an iPad mini cost less together. The Verge sums up the mood well: fun to use, but heavy, expensive and a little rough around the edges.

What the reviews say

• Engadget, 8.8 out of 10. Sam Rutherford calls it a first-class foldable, held back by its weight, its price and apps that haven't caught up yet. He found the crease all but disappears when you look at the screen straight on, praised the hinge as one of the best he's used, and still had more than 40 per cent battery left at the end of most days.
• The Verge. Found it fun to use, with a lovely matte inner screen, but criticised the small outer screen, a body that's heavier and bulkier than other phones, average cameras, and a tendency to get hot.
• 9to5Mac. Chance Miller's review is headlined "The future is foldable". He typically finished a normal day with around 20 per cent battery left, and found it more comfortable to hold than the iPhone 18 Pro Max despite weighing slightly more, though long one-handed use still tired his wrist.
• Gizmodo, 4 out of 5. Says Apple was right to take its time over a foldable, but marks it down for the price, the weight and a low-resolution camera under the inner screen.
• TechRadar. Calls it the foldable Apple fans have been waiting for, says the crease is virtually invisible in everyday use, and describes it as more of a hybrid of iPhone and iPad than a folded iPhone.
• Tom's Guide. Rates it the best foldable they've tested, while noting it's on the heavy side and that multitasking could be better.
• PetaPixel. Finds it well made but questions whether it solves anything an iPad doesn't already, sees the cameras as a step down from the Pro models, and, like The Verge, noticed it getting warm under heavy use with the screen open.

Also worth reading: WIRED's review.

What MKBHD thinks

Marques Brownlee's full review is on his YouTube channel, and his verdict is one of the most useful of the lot, because he answers the question most people are actually asking: should I buy it? He describes it as “polished, but rough”, and puts the idea simply. It's an iPad mini with a lovely, smooth OLED screen that fits in your pocket, so if you've always wanted exactly that, this is the phone for you.

For most people with an iPhone already, though, he thinks the answer is probably no. That goes for anyone who mostly texts, uses social media and browses the web, for people who want the very best cameras, and for anyone who tends to drop and break their phone. But if the price doesn't put you off and the idea appeals, he says that once you're over the learning curve and used to life without Face ID, it's a really fun phone to use. The animations, the hinge and the inner screen make up for a lot, even if it feels heavy at times and not every app is ready yet.

He's also clear that some compromises come with folding phones whatever Apple does, so the battery, speakers and cameras are all a little behind a regular iPhone. He calls it an admirable first attempt, expects many more apps to be updated by the time new orders arrive, and thinks the second generation could be amazing if Apple listens to the feedback.

Where they agree

• The crease is hard to spot. Nearly everyone says that, looking straight at it, you stop noticing the fold. You can still see it at an angle and feel it under your finger.
• It's heavy. At 254g it's the heaviest iPhone Apple has made, and almost every review mentions it. It's comfortable in the hand, but you'll notice it in a pocket.
• The battery is better than feared. Real-world reports range from about 20 to over 40 per cent left at the end of a normal day, which is good going for a phone with two screens, although MKBHD still puts it a little behind a regular iPhone.
• The hinge and build are excellent. Several reviewers say Apple's hinge and finish are better than the best Android foldables.

Where they disagree

• The cameras. The Verge calls them average, MKBHD says they're a little behind a regular iPhone, and Engadget says the iPhone 18 Pro is still the better camera, because it has a longer zoom and a variable aperture. The camera under the inner screen divides opinion completely: Engadget thinks it's better than Samsung's, while Gizmodo and MKBHD weren't impressed.
• Apps. Apple's own apps already make great use of the big screen, as do some big names like Netflix and Instagram, according to Engadget. Others, including Gmail, don't yet, so some apps still look stretched or boxed in.
• Who it's for. Some reviewers see the future of the iPhone. Others see a very expensive way of carrying an iPad mini in your pocket.

One thing worth knowing

Engadget spotted something Apple doesn't warn you about during setup. The matte layer on the inner screen, which is what helps hide the crease, can be peeled off, and replacing it costs extra (Engadget quotes $49 in the US). So if you get one, don't pick at that layer, and be careful with screen protectors on the inner screen until there's clear advice on which ones are safe to use.

What it means if you're thinking about one

Nothing in the reviews changes what I said when Apple announced it. It's a brilliant, expensive, first-generation phone, and for most of the people I look after it isn't the one to buy this year. But the reviews are reassuring about the things that worried people most, the crease and the battery especially.

If you've ordered one, the main things to take from the reviews are to be gentle with that inner screen and to give the apps you use most a few weeks to catch up. If you haven't ordered, new orders won't arrive until late January anyway, so there's no hurry. And if your current phone needs replacing now, the iPhone 18 Pro is still the better camera, as Engadget points out, and my buyer's guide puts them side by side.

If you've got a question about the Duo, iHelp AI can answer it any time, or you can book a session and we'll talk it through, including getting a new Duo set up and moving everything across when it arrives.

Alex