The iPhone Duo is COOKED...

Summary

The reviewer gives the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, a strongly negative first-impressions review after roughly one to two days of use. Although it has some useful features, the reviewer says it feels like a first-generation product despite Apple’s long development time and roughly $2,000 price.

Main criticisms

• Touch ID instead of Face ID: The reviewer finds the fingerprint sensor unreliable, especially with wet or greasy fingers, and says using it adds friction to the familiar unlock-and-swipe routine.
• Missing controls: The phone has a camera button but no Action button or physical mute switch, limiting quick controls and shortcuts.
• Display: Its matte finish reduces reflections, but the reviewer says the screen looks hazy and low in contrast. The crease became more visible after a couple of days of use. The reviewer also cites an estimated $900 screen replacement cost.
• Durability concerns: The reviewer notes that the phone failed Jerry’s durability test and points to online reports of hinge-area display failures, including cracks and green lines. These are presented as concerns and reports, not as a quantified failure rate.
• Software and multitasking: Some Google apps, including Docs and Maps, appear poorly adapted or broken. Multitasking is limited to a basic 50/50 split: the divider cannot be adjusted, there are no floating windows or app dock, and users must exit or use gestures to add apps. There is no vertical split-screen mode.
• Gaming and app scaling: Games and some apps do not make effective use of the larger display. The reviewer says enlarged content can look soft or stretched, and that the expanded screen does not always provide more usable space.
• Cameras: The Duo lacks a telephoto lens and some software options the reviewer expected, such as manual controls and Log recording. Its main sensor is described as matching the base iPhone 17 rather than the Pro model. The inner-display selfie camera is criticized for being dark and limited to 1080p; the rear ultrawide camera is praised for its especially broad field of view. The reviewer also reports camera freezes and an unexpected shutdown.
• Overall value: Battery life is a bright spot and is described as close to the Pro Max on paper. However, the reviewer says that and the foldable screen’s usefulness for watching YouTube while reading comments do not justify the price.

The reviewer expects software to improve but advises against buying at launch, given the price and reported pre-order delays.

Products and sources mentioned

• INIU Pocket Rocket P50 power bank (sponsor): A 10,000mAh, 45W model weighing 160g, with two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a detachable braided cable that can double as a lanyard, and a battery-percentage display.
• Durability reference: Jerry’s durability test.
• Other reported references: Online posts alleging display failures, and comparisons with the Galaxy Z Fold 1 and a Xiaomi foldable.

Main speaker/source

• Snowball channel reviewer: Provides the hands-on iPhone Duo review and the sponsored power-bank segment. The video also references Jerry’s durability test and user reports from online posts.