21 votes

Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone

21 comments

  1. [4]
    Noox
    Link
    Unbelievable.

    Starts from 1999$
    (Emphasis mine).

    Unbelievable.

    11 votes
    1. [3]
      stu2b50
      Link Parent
      Yeah I was surprised at the price, thought it would be at least $2500-$2600 for the base unit. For $2000 I might just pick one up on a lark. If nothing else I was considering an iPad mini as a...

      Yeah I was surprised at the price, thought it would be at least $2500-$2600 for the base unit. For $2000 I might just pick one up on a lark. If nothing else I was considering an iPad mini as a sketchbook anyway.

      5 votes
      1. [2]
        Gazook89
        Link Parent
        I’m not sure that parent comment was suggesting that $2000 was lower than expected.

        I’m not sure that parent comment was suggesting that $2000 was lower than expected.

        11 votes
        1. stu2b50
          Link Parent
          Huh, what price were they expecting? It’s basically the same price as the Samsung fold (Z fold is $1900 and Z fold ultra is $2100) and Samsung has had many years to optimize their offering...

          Huh, what price were they expecting? It’s basically the same price as the Samsung fold (Z fold is $1900 and Z fold ultra is $2100) and Samsung has had many years to optimize their offering supply-chain wise, not to mention Samsung usually prices more aggressively.

          8 votes
  2. [5]
    Bullmaestro
    Link
    Surprised they even bothered with a foldable phone, considering how easily they wear down and break. The only real advantage you get from using one is having double, even triple the screen real...

    Surprised they even bothered with a foldable phone, considering how easily they wear down and break. The only real advantage you get from using one is having double, even triple the screen real estate.

    At this point they're well and truly aping Samsung and Huawei...

    8 votes
    1. moonwalker
      Link Parent
      Yeah it feels like a failed category of product already. I've heard people who have them don't even unfold them that much

      Yeah it feels like a failed category of product already. I've heard people who have them don't even unfold them that much

      5 votes
    2. [3]
      JXM
      Link Parent
      I’ve owned a few and used them caseless for extended periods of time…never had one break on me. They’re really not that fragile.

      I’ve owned a few and used them caseless for extended periods of time…never had one break on me. They’re really not that fragile.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        carnage431
        Link Parent
        You must have gotten lucky... or maybe I'm just unlucky. I have had the galaxy 5 fold for about two years and have replaced it twice because of the hinge. The first one was definitely from...

        You must have gotten lucky... or maybe I'm just unlucky. I have had the galaxy 5 fold for about two years and have replaced it twice because of the hinge. The first one was definitely from falling. The second one I have no idea, the hinge did fail though. Given the quality of the refurbishment on the second and third, I wouldn't be surprised if the hinges were oem

        2 votes
        1. JXM
          Link Parent
          Maybe you're unlucky? (/s) From what I've seen, almost none of my friends or co-workers who have folding phones have had issues with them. Did they charge you for a repair? The only work I had to...

          Maybe you're unlucky? (/s)

          From what I've seen, almost none of my friends or co-workers who have folding phones have had issues with them.

          Did they charge you for a repair? The only work I had to have done was getting them to replace the inner screen protector after my son smeared paint on it and it wouldn't wash off. Samsung just sent me to a repair place and did it for free.

  3. [2]
    stu2b50
    Link
    It's quite a bit cheaper than I thought it'd be. Pretty much the same as what Samsung sells the fold for. Would need to see it in person in an apple store, but from the previews it does look...

    It's quite a bit cheaper than I thought it'd be. Pretty much the same as what Samsung sells the fold for.

    Would need to see it in person in an apple store, but from the previews it does look beautiful. I imagine the app support would be quite a lot better than on Android foldable as well, given the track record with iPad.

    Would definitely consider picking one up, if nothing else for apple pencil support.

    6 votes
    1. Rocket_Man
      Link Parent
      Can you expand on what you like about it? I don't really see it offering much more for that extra 1k.

      Can you expand on what you like about it? I don't really see it offering much more for that extra 1k.

  4. artvandelay
    Link
    Sharing sentiments with @stu2b50, definitely cheaper than I thought it'd be too. I like what Apple have done here, the UI changes are definitely very Apple. The animation on the screen as you fold...

    Sharing sentiments with @stu2b50, definitely cheaper than I thought it'd be too. I like what Apple have done here, the UI changes are definitely very Apple. The animation on the screen as you fold and unfold is a delightful touch. I'm a little iffy on all the UI being on the right side. If you hold the phone in your left hand, you'd have to stretch over to the other side. I imagine it might be adjustable but who knows.

    I'm a little torn on if I want to upgrade. I've got a 15 Pro Max that still functions just fine. The battery is a little degraded though, might just end up repairing that in the end. I'm not sure how much I'd need a folding phone, I don't really do much on my phone nowadays. I also have a separate tablet for media consumption. As an American, it is my civic duty to spend money on things I don't really need, our economy relies on it :P

    5 votes
  5. alden
    Link
    Tangentially related: I am disappointed that the foldable phones seem to have eaten up the market for small pocket-sized phones. I want a reliable phone with modern features and a 4 inch screen. I...

    Tangentially related: I am disappointed that the foldable phones seem to have eaten up the market for small pocket-sized phones. I want a reliable phone with modern features and a 4 inch screen. I don't want a tablet in my pocket. I don't want a tablet at all. If anything I want to spend less time on my phone. I do rely on my phone to look up transit schedules and order at restaurants with a QR code, so alas, I am stuck with a 6-inch-plus smart phone for now.

    5 votes
  6. [3]
    Sycamore
    Link
    I don't understand how anyone could comfortably hold this. I for sure cannot comfortably hold a phone this size.

    I don't understand how anyone could comfortably hold this. I for sure cannot comfortably hold a phone this size.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      scarecrw
      Link Parent
      I think it's just an optical illusion, but some of the shots of a single hand holding the phone look ridiculous. Like they took a normal phone/hand and stretched them both out. Maybe they found a...

      I think it's just an optical illusion, but some of the shots of a single hand holding the phone look ridiculous. Like they took a normal phone/hand and stretched them both out. Maybe they found a long-fingered hand model?

      3 votes
      1. Sycamore
        Link Parent
        Exactly! I didn't see any photos of the phone in the hand, except for one and the fingers looked absurdly long..

        Exactly! I didn't see any photos of the phone in the hand, except for one and the fingers looked absurdly long..

        1 vote
  7. unkz
    Link
    Pencil support! I would have bought pretty much any new phone that supported the pencil.

    Pencil support! I would have bought pretty much any new phone that supported the pencil.

  8. teaearlgraycold
    Link
    It actually looks pretty nice. I’ll check it out in the store. I love how they used the sqrt(2) aspect ratio just like with paper so it has the same ratio when folded in half.

    It actually looks pretty nice. I’ll check it out in the store. I love how they used the sqrt(2) aspect ratio just like with paper so it has the same ratio when folded in half.

  9. granfdad
    Link
    What an odd form factor. It seems wider than most phones (even other foldables), but maybe it's just shorter? I can see the value of a folding phone much more than I can see the value of an iPad....

    What an odd form factor. It seems wider than most phones (even other foldables), but maybe it's just shorter?

    I can see the value of a folding phone much more than I can see the value of an iPad. This plus a macbook seems like it would cover most people's non-artistic needs... provided Apple doesn't kneecap iOS's dual-screen functionality in order to maintain the value proposition of the iPad. Not the greatest first impressions of the sidebar UX, but maybe it will work.

    I had heard things about this phone having a 'nearly invisible crease' (paraphrasing), but I don't believe it. Will wait for the JerryRigEverything teardown to make any real judgements. It also makes sense that this would come after the iPhone Air, since thickness seems to be the major hurdle for these things.

    And as always, the value of new phones always kinda comes down to 'look at these new camera features!'. I wonder if there's any other frontiers for the industry to target? Obviously the other one I can think of is bring back the headphone jack with a super nice DAC, but I can't see a market for that like I can for a good camera.

  10. [2]
    papasquat
    Link
    Nice, I can't wait for all the breathless reviews and comments online implying that Apple invented folding phones.

    Nice, I can't wait for all the breathless reviews and comments online implying that Apple invented folding phones.

    1 vote
    1. granfdad
      Link Parent
      Do people actually still do this? I feel as though I see vastly more Apple hate than Apple fanboyism nowadays.

      Do people actually still do this? I feel as though I see vastly more Apple hate than Apple fanboyism nowadays.