Apple is betting that group selfies will help sell its first foldable iPhone, the Duo. According to Engadget, the company devoted notable time to the topic at its September event, even though rivals have offered similar camera tricks for years. The Duo's key pitch is that its foldable design lets users prop the device open and shoot with the 48-megapixel rear cameras, which are sharper and better in low light than the front-facing camera.
Two iOS 27 features anchor the experience. Smart Take watches for motion and automatically captures a photo once everyone in the frame holds still, removing the need to race a timer. Duo Preview shows a live view on the front screen so subjects can adjust their poses. Engadget notes that Smart Take may produce as many bad shots as good ones, since people might blink or simply wait around, but it is still a useful alternative to repeated timed attempts.
The first-generation design has trade-offs. There is no telephoto lens, which could limit composition when the phone cannot be placed close enough. Handheld use is awkward because of thin bezels, and the 8.96-ounce Duo is light enough that wind or a bump could tip it over while standing. At a $2,000 entry price, Apple is asking a lot for a feature that may not be a daily necessity, but the Duo still offers a glimpse of where iPhone photography is headed.