I’m someone who uses the Z Fold8 every single day, so I wanted to see if it’s indeed worth waiting for the iPhone Duo because right now, it’s completely sold out in my country. So I went to the Apple Store to try it. Long story short, nope, not as it is right now, and I came to this conclusion even before the multiple posts on socials about the Duo’s broken screens just a few days after purchase.
Apparently the affected hinge mechanism iPhone Duo isn’t dust proof enough despite the IP68 rating, and dust getting into the hinge mechanism seems to be the main issue here. Now, I don’t think the problem is as widespread as it seems. A lot of it has to do with social media amplification, and many people are also saying that their Duos are fine, and by the way, broken screens happen to Samsung foldables too. To Apple’s credit, they are to replace damaged devices within the AppleCare program, and they are also saying that only a small number of devices are affected, so we’ll have to keep monitoring this issue.
Nonetheless, when I held the iPhone Duo for the first time, the iPhone Duo is a very well built device. Feels very solid, premium, comfortable to hold, in fact it’s a bit more ergonomic-feeling than the Z Fold8. I also like that the speakers are in diagonal positions so the sound is centered whichever the orientation the Duo is in, whereas the Z Fold8 has speakers only on one side. The Duo’s hinge can also do fixed angles while the Samsung’s can only do it up to a certain point. Plus, for people who are in the Apple ecosystem, this could still be compelling as their first foldable device. So why do I still like the Z Fold8 better? I’m going to share my thoughts from my very brief interaction with the Duo, so buckle up!
First Reason
The first reason why I prefer the Z Fold8 is that its inner screen has deeper black levels. The screen may be glossy, and a case can be made that Duo’s Nano-texture is awesome because it’s anti-reflective, which makes it better for working under bright lighting. But the display does look more washed out because the blacks aren’t as deep, which means the images on the iPhone Duo don’t look as vibrant when it counts.
Second Reason
The second reason is multitasking. The iPhone Duo does multitasking pretty well, and it’s easy to switch between apps in split screen mode, easier than on the Z Fold8. But the Z Fold8 can have up to 7 windows on the screen at the same time. Up to 3 split screens and a few more small windows can be opened on the Z Fold8’s inner display, which makes this a better multitasker.
Third Reason
The third reason is the iPhone Duo’s side bar. This isn’t that big of a deal because I believe Apple will give people the option to dismiss the side bar entirely, so that it’s not always there if you don’t need it. But for now, it’s taking up too much space and not allowing certain apps to use the whole screen.
And some apps are not even optimized for the different aspect ratios of the Duo which results in blank spaces plus the side bar. Granted, it’s a situation that’s getting better day by day, as more app developers adapt their apps to the iPhone Duo. But the issue, as I’m writing this article, is still there.
Fourth Reason
The fourth reason may not be a big deal for some people, but the Z Fold8 is lighter than the iPhone Duo. Yes, since it’s lighter, it feels less hefty and less premium as a result. But I use my Z Fold8 all the time for reading my novels on the move and in bed, and this super light weight helps a lot with holding and using it one handed. And if I’m reading it upside down when I’m in bed, it hurts less when I drop it on my face.
So without factoring in the Duo’s durability and the lower price of the Z Fold8, these are the main reasons why I like the Z FOld8 more than the iPhone Duo, as of this moment.
Personal Thoughts
As an iPhone user, perhaps if I had the chance to use the Duo on a daily basis, I’d be able to uncover more compelling reasons to pick the Duo instead. But for now, the main reasons why I would still consider the Duo is the super seamless integration of Apple devices across ecosystems, plus shared settings, shared devices, unified notes, and AirPods custom settings and firmware updates. Aside from that, the more premium feel of the device, the diagonal speakers, and that it’s much easier to achieve fixed angles with the iPhone Duo’s hinge. Those still compelling reasons to stick to Apple for your very first foldable device.
As an Apple user myself I am super pumped for the next version of the Duo. I’ve no doubt that Apple will learn from this first experience and make a much better, more polished iPhone Duo.
But what do you think? Is the iPhone Duo still more compelling, and if you already have the Duo do you have any regrets? Let us know in the comments.
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