The Cupertino Coffin - New MacBook Pro and iPad Mini Before Apple's 'Pro and Tell' Event!

iPhone Duo: Reviews and First Impressions

The panel discussed early reviews of Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo. Reviewers generally found it compelling and unusual, but also incomplete: it combines impressive hardware with software and app-support rough edges. The panel advised treating first-week reviews cautiously and considering how the phone’s size, weight, and handling fit your habits before spending roughly $2,000.

• Hardware: The Duo’s hinge, magnets, materials, and overall fit and finish drew praise. Stephen Hackett, who had used an iPhone Air before it, saw the Duo as a successor to that design direction. The phone is heavier than expected, and its camera is not the top-tier option in Apple’s lineup.
• Form factor and ergonomics: The outer screen is wider and squatter than a conventional iPhone screen. The unfolded screen is useful to have in a pocket, but it is still small compared with an iPad. One-handed use and access to controls can be difficult, particularly for people with smaller hands. Grip, hand size, clothing, and how someone carries a phone will strongly shape their experience.
• Software and apps: Some Apple apps and many third-party apps were not yet well adapted to the Duo. The panel criticized Apple’s decision to require developers to do special work for the Duo rather than automatically making existing iPad apps work well on its larger screen. Developers also received the tools relatively late, and app updates were still arriving as reviews were published. Apple Pencil support was discussed as a feature that required a software update rather than being ready immediately.
• Overall assessment: The panel described the Duo as a “splash zone” product: a technically impressive first-generation device whose compromises and unresolved details are part of trying a new category. They expect software refinements and later hardware generations to improve the experience.

Display Cracking and Durability

Reports emerged of some iPhone Duo inner displays cracking, often in a similar pattern near the fold. Apple acknowledged an issue affecting a small number of units and said affected customers could seek a replacement under warranty. The panel noted that Apple may retain returned devices to investigate the cause.

An iFixit teardown reportedly identified a possible area of concern around the hinge and described the Duo as relatively repairable for a foldable. The panel cautioned that a few highly visible failures do not establish how common the issue is, but urged Apple to explain the cause clearly—especially given the phone’s high price and buyers’ concerns about foldable-screen durability. They also noted that foldable phones are inherently more vulnerable to damage than conventional phones.

Novelty Apps and Developer Support

The Duo prompted a wave of playful apps that use its folding form:

• Toasty: A grilled-cheese-making game in which the phone acts like a sandwich press. Players assemble ingredients, close the phone, and wait for the toast to finish.
• Duo-Man: Turns the device into a Walkman-style music player.
• Tiny Tiny Computers: A visual homage to classic computers, though it simulates rather than emulates them.
• Rad Pad: A Trapper Keeper-inspired app that was still in development or testing.
• Delta: A real game-console emulator mentioned as an example of an app that works well on the Duo.
• Netflix: Cited as a major developer that had adapted its app to take advantage of the Duo’s open, laptop-like layout.

The panel welcomed the creativity of the novelty apps while noting that the larger app ecosystem still needed work.

Updated iPad mini

Apple’s iPad mini update adds an OLED display and starts at $699 for 128 GB. The panel noted that options such as nano-texture glass are not available on the base configuration, so the price can rise quickly.

Other discussed features include:

• Water- and dust-resistance, a first for an iPad.
• A landscape-positioned front camera.
• Support for Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Apple Pencil.
• External-display support and improved multitasking.

The mini remains a niche device suited to readers and people who want a compact tablet. However, the panel questioned whether it is now too expensive for people who mainly want a small e-reader or media device. They compared it with the less expensive base iPad and discussed whether Apple could offer a less costly, less powerful tablet in the future.

MacBook Pro Updates and Touchscreen Rumors

Apple announced an updated 14-inch base MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, priced from $1,999. The panel characterized it as a largely incremental update, aimed in part at corporate buyers who want a “Pro” laptop without paying for higher-end Pro or Max configurations. They cited its ports—including Thunderbolt and an SD card slot—as practical advantages over the MacBook Air, along with its display and higher memory and storage options.

The discussion also looked back at Apple’s troubled MacBook Pro generation from a decade earlier, particularly its butterfly keyboard, limited ports, and Touch Bar. The panel praised the later redesign for restoring a more practical keyboard and ports, and hoped Apple would preserve that distinction between Pro and Air models.

A separate, higher-priced MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen was expected to be announced the following day, but had not yet been announced at the time of recording. Based on reporting discussed on the show, it might be thinner and lighter, use existing chip options rather than new M6 Pro or M6 Max chips, and feature a hinge suited to touch input. The panel expected touch to supplement—not replace—the keyboard and trackpad, and questioned how much macOS itself would change to accommodate it.

Reviews, Guides, and Tutorials

The show discussed the iPhone Duo reviews released the previous week and Stephen Hackett’s early hands-on impressions. The panel emphasized that these were early assessments of a new form factor, not a definitive long-term verdict. No step-by-step guide or tutorial was covered.

Main Speakers and Sources

Speakers: Jason Snell (host), Andy Ihnatko, Shelly Brisbin, and Stephen Hackett.

Sources and reporting discussed: Early iPhone Duo reviewers, including John Gruber and Joanna Stern; Apple’s statement on display failures; iFixit’s teardown; Mark Gurman/Bloomberg reporting; John Voorhees and MacStories’ developer coverage; and Stephen Hackett’s hands-on impressions.