Apple's first foldable iPhone, the Duo, opens for pre-orders this Friday, but Engadget's buying guide cautions that the flagship price doesn't buy flagship hardware. At $1,999, the Duo is the priciest iPhone ever, yet it has only two rear cameras with no dedicated telephoto lens, a 12-megapixel front camera, and Touch ID on the side button instead of Face ID. The Action Button is also gone, leaving users with the Control Center for quick controls.
Software is another early hurdle. While Apple has optimized iOS 27 for the foldable form factor, most third-party apps have not been updated to fill the Duo's screen. Engadget notes that some popular apps like Netflix, Zoom, and Slack will have launch-day updates, but others may appear stretched or with black bars until developers catch up.
The competition is also strong. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899 and is lighter and thinner, while Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold offers a 5x optical zoom at the same price. To soften the blow, Apple's trade-in program offers up to $885 off, and AT&T is advertising up to $1,200 in trade-in credit. Still, Engadget suggests that buyers already invested in Apple's ecosystem will get the most value from the Duo.{