Of course, what followed was no longer a real surprise. The numerous Apple augurs had long since discovered that this time it would be serious with a foldable cell phone. What might surprise some, however, is the shape. Because unlike the competitor models, which have been on the market for years, the iPhone Duo is similar to the format of a passport. So it doesn't look like two normal smartphones glued together, as an Apple manager commented disparagingly. The left side of the iPhone Duo is straight when viewed from the front, the right is slightly rounded at the corners.
If you open it, the front screen becomes blurred, the content seems to migrate to the inner, large screen and appears there at first blurred and then exactly the same as the front. As always, it's the little things that a company like Apple solves differently than the competition and thus delights its fans. From a technical point of view, you are often on a par with your competitors; sometimes Apple is ahead in one feature, sometimes another. But many customers also appreciate the attention to detail.
Apple has proceeded as it has done so many times before: first let the others do their thing and see whether a product category works at all. This then leaves the competition struggling with teething problems - the error-prone hinges of Samsung's first folding cell phone are a clear example. The Asian manufacturers also initially had to struggle with the kink between the two halves of the screen.
Features such as the fact that the flip phone recognizes which position it is in on the table, such as being opened in an L shape or placed like a gable roof, also seem pretty well thought out. In the latter position, the iPhone Duo can serve as an alarm clock on the bedside table and is probably one of the most expensive out there. The entry-level model costs 2,300 euros and will be available from October 23rd.
In order to take advantage of all the possibilities that the 7.6-inch screen offers, that is 19.3 centimeters, Apple has also adapted its own apps, including some from third-party providers, such as the productivity app Slack. Apple also wants to make it possible to use the stylus on the iPhone Duo, which was actually developed for the iPad.
There are two batteries built into the smartphone, so the device should last for a day. It is powered by the same chip that is also in the iPhone 18 Pro, which was also introduced, and its larger version, the iPhone Pro Max. Thanks to a refined manufacturing process, the chip is faster, has more AI and graphics processing units on board, but according to Apple is more economical in terms of energy consumption.
The new boss calmly leads through the program
In addition to the Pro iPhones, Apple also usually presents the more affordable variants. This time the company decided not to do so. They may come before Christmas or in spring, as well as the iPhone SE models. There was also no update for the particularly slim iPhone Air. With the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple focused primarily on the cell phone's cameras and almost tirelessly talked down their advantages. On the other hand, the camera is one of the most important aspects for many users.
The new boss John Ternus did his job very calmly, although a little more tensely than his predecessor Tim Cook. He didn't make it difficult for him, he even paved the way with a meticulously prepared gag. The presentation, which was played as a video recording as has been customary since the Corona pandemic, began with a whole series of possible beginnings of a film - until Cook suddenly appeared in the picture. But he immediately waved him off and said: “Not me, he’s your husband.” Whereupon the camera panned to the new boss.
He, who until recently was the head of hardware development, certainly has a large share in the new products, including new AirPods earphones and new versions of the Apple Watch with a particular focus on health functions. But the general line was determined by Cook, and it will be exciting to see whether the new guy can or wants to solve the dilemma of the economically extremely successful company: There haven't been any real innovations from Apple since the iPhone. The competitors also presented the iPhone Duo years ago.
