The only major surprise with September 9’s announcement of the iPhone Duo was its name. Up until the last minute, most rumors referred to it as the Ultra or Fold. It’s otherwise exactly as predicted: a passport-shaped foldable that acts like a traditional iPhone when closed, but more like an iPad when it’s open.
This raises an interesting dilemma for people like myself. Should I trade in my old iPhone and iPad, and count on a Duo for everything? Or is it better to stick to separate, more narrowly focused devices? There are arguments both ways, but here are a few reasons why I’m tempted to leave iPads behind. This is all based on Apple’s announcement info and my current lifestyle, mind you — real-world conditions could leave iPads the victor.
Improved portability
A miracle for travelers?
I don’t travel as much as I used to. When I do, though, one irritation is the number of devices I have to juggle if I want to both work and have fun. My iPad in particular is perfect for killing time on long flights by way of movie and TV binges — but I have less use for it on the ground, and it takes up plenty of space in my carry-on, especially with a dedicated charger in tow.
While the unfolded Duo may only be 7.6 inches, that’s still large enough to persuade me to leave an iPad behind for a single device I can fit in my pocket. That’s also one less charger to worry about, not just in terms of packing and security screenings, but how and when things need to be charged. Keeping three or four devices topped up can be a challenge, especially if you’re on an all-day trip and you can’t wrangle a seat next to a charging station during the layover(s).
Easier access to advanced apps
Within limits, that is
A saying in the photography world is that the best camera is the one you have on you — it hardly matters that you own a $5,000 mirrorless if it’s sitting at home during the opportunity of a lifetime. Likewise, while iPads are increasingly Mac-like in their app capabilities, their form factor makes them impractical to carry with you unless you have a bag. The Duo should in theory allow iPad-like functionality wherever you go, and even prove superior at some tasks, such as reading. Even an iPad mini is a bit heavy and cumbersome to hold in one hand for long.
There are some huge asterisks to this one. While Apple has promised hundreds of upgraded apps from itself and third-party developers, we the public haven’t had a look at most of them. And by definition, a 7.6-inch screen with a phone processor offers less flexibility than an 8-, 11-, or even 13-inch device with a Mac chip. That said, the MacBook Neo uses the same processor as my iPhone 16 Pro.
Access to forbidden hardware and software
Seriously Apple, give the iPad a break
Just as Apple gives the iPad special advantages to convince you it’s worth buying alongside an iPhone, the reverse is true as well. There’s no Watch app on iPads for pairing your Apple Watch, and there’s no Wallet app for managing Apple Pay or your passes. Indeed, passes don’t work at all on an iPad. You can’t take phone calls without an iPhone nearby, and even the Compass app is somehow verboten. The gap just gets worse when you factor in third-party app creators.
The cameras on iPads are intentionally crippled. You can’t get any better than a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera (at the moment), whereas the Duo has twin 48-megapixel shooters, one of them an ultra-wide. That means far better on-device photo and video capture, including the ability to prop it up without a stand for selfies and timelapses. Duo-enhanced versions of Filmic Pro and DaVinci Resolve could be killer apps for YouTubers and other indie filmmakers.
