Apple's Foldable Debuts With Touch ID

Apple has officially released the iPhone Duo, its first folding smartphone. The device carries a price tag of $1,999. It enters the market seven years after Samsung introduced the Galaxy Fold. Apple spent that time refining the hardware away from public view. The result is a device that Wired describes as a pretty dang good foldable. Buyers, however, face several software and hardware adjustments before they can fully use the new shape factor.

The most immediate challenge for new owners is app compatibility. The Duo features a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display. This new aspect ratio has not been fully adopted by third-party developers. Many apps currently appear as a narrow strip in the center of the screen, flanked by thick black bars. Apple has updated its own apps to fit the new layout. Several major services, including Slack, Instagram, DoorDash, and WhatsApp, have also released updates for iOS 27.1. Even these updated apps still show broken interface elements. Instagram, for example, retains some visual glitches. Apple has also moved navigation elements to the right side of the screen instead of the bottom center. Because the device is currently back-ordered for several weeks, many users may receive their phones after developers have fixed these issues.

The Duo also marks a major design shift by dropping Face ID. Apple replaced facial recognition with Touch ID. The fingerprint sensor is located on the right side of the device. The thinness of the phone likely drove this decision. This is the first time Touch ID has appeared on a flagship iPhone since its removal from the main line. The technology remains on the iPhone SE, iPads, and MacBooks. Some users may miss the speed of Face ID, while others may prefer the touch sensor. The Dynamic Island feature remains, but it is now positioned at the top-right edge around the outer selfie camera. It appears in the same corner on the inner display during live activities.

Accessories present some practical hurdles. The phone supports MagSafe, but the weight distribution is uneven when unfolded. Attaching the device to a car dock or tripod causes it to tip to one side. Third-party manufacturers may need to use anti-rotation magnets to fix this. Magnetic wallets can be attached, but the Duo is shorter than standard iPhones. Existing wallets stick out past the bottom edge, and Apple has not provided an official solution for this fit issue.

Camera functionality offers a distinct advantage. Users can take selfies using the high-quality rear cameras. They can preview the image on the outer screen. After launching the camera and flipping the phone, a control labeled Slide to show camera brings the full camera app to the outer display. This view includes all modes and Photographic Styles. The inner screen disables itself to prevent accidental touches. This is separate from Duo Preview, which lets the subject see the viewfinder. A feature called Kids Cue plays Snoopy animations on the outer screen to attract a child's attention for photos.

Multitasking works by dragging an app from the bottom to either side of the inner screen. This allows two apps to run side by side. Tapping the middle bar once makes it glow white. This action locks the two apps as a pair. The pair appears in the Recent apps menu, but users cannot save it as a single icon on the home screen.

Apple advises caution regarding the inner display. A case and outer-screen protector are recommended. The inner screen has a matte nano-texture finish. Apple calls this finish an integral component of the device. Its support page warns users not to attempt to remove it. Doing so could void the warranty. Apple does not address third-party screen protectors, which might hurt display performance. If the finish is damaged, replacement costs $19 in warranty or $49 out of warranty. A cracked inner display costs $999 without AppleCare+.

Several software conveniences are on the way. The keyboard can already be split to make typing easier on the wide inner display. A software update later this year will add Reachability. This feature will shift an app to the left or right instead of pulling it down. Another update later this year will add support for the USB-C Apple Pencil. Only that specific model will work. The stylus should feel paper-like on the nano-texture screen. There is no built-in place to store the stylus on the phone.