iPhone Duo hands-on in Valencia: sceptical going in, amazed coming out

On Friday 23 October we were in Valencia for the launch of the iPhone Duo. We went in sceptical. A foldable iPhone is a big step, and in the Netherlands Apple asks at least 2,339 euros for it. It had some proving to do.

A queue at the door

The Apple Store on Calle Colón sits in a stately corner building with wrought-iron balconies, and a queue was already waiting along the facade. Security at the entrance, a police officer on the pavement and a little dog that clearly didn’t want to miss the launch either.

Inside, the units stood unfolded on stands, with a sign next to them: “Coge un iPhone Duo y pruébalo”. Pick up an iPhone Duo and try it. So we did.

First impressions

And then the scepticism was gone quickly. What a cool and beautiful device this is. I was amazed by the quality, and not just of the device itself. Everything that comes with it felt carefully made.

What Apple says about it

Let’s get the facts straight, as Apple states them. The inner display is 7.6 inches and the outer display 5.4 inches. The enclosure is titanium, the front is Ceramic Shield 2 and the device is rated IP68. Inside is the A20 Pro, on the back are two 48 megapixel cameras and there are two batteries, one in each half. Opened, Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone ever.

Touch ID is in the side button and works both open and closed. Note that the device is eSIM-only.

Our own website on it

The first thing we did, of course, was open the Analyst ICT website. On the big inner display the homepage and the blog page looked right straight away. You see the difference with a regular iPhone immediately: a lot more page fits on one screen.

For business use

What matters for many of you: does it work as a tool? Apple added Split View, which lets you use two apps side by side, and calls it a first for iPhone. You can also open two windows of the same app and save app pairs. Think mail next to your calendar, or Slack next to a document.

Unlocking works with Touch ID, even when it is folded shut, or with your Apple Watch. Support for the USB-C Apple Pencil arrives later this year. The device requires iOS 27.1.

Do keep the price in mind. In the Netherlands the iPhone Duo starts at 2,339 euros for 256 GB and goes up to 3,839 euros for 2 TB. Pre-orders opened on 16 October and it has been on sale since 23 October.

Conclusion

We walked in sceptical and walked out amazed. Is this a device for everyone? At this price, no. But that it is a remarkably well-made device, we are convinced after this launch in Valencia.

A full review follows in a week or two, once I have used the iPhone Duo in daily life for longer.