Apple Duo’s Foldable Phone Wins Over Reviewer Despite Frustrations

The reviewer carried Apple’s new Duo phone on a five‑day vacation, keeping his iPhone 17 Pro Max as a backup. He found the Duo’s short, squat design uncomfortable at first but noted it fits comfortably in both front and back pockets, even with a case. The phone survived multiple accidental drops on concrete, tile and wood without screen damage, indicating solid durability. During the trip, the reviewer experienced frustrations such as a small outer screen that required scrolling to read text threads, unoptimized apps with features hidden behind a three‑dot menu, and frequent freezes of the Google Search app, especially when AI Mode was activated. He had to force‑close the app to regain functionality. Many apps were not yet Duo‑optimized at launch, leaving a black bar on the side that reduced usable screen space. Despite this, core apps like Google Maps worked well for navigation and local searches. The reviewer expects major apps to update over time. A major drawback noted was the absence of Face ID, replaced by Touch ID. While the reviewer rarely needed to unlock the phone due to an Apple Watch, he found Touch ID cumbersome for app access and Apple Pay, where Face ID would have provided a smoother experience.