iPhone Duo your thoughts

The Old Man · 09-09-2026, 04:15 PM

Just watched the Apple Event. Would the Duo replace my iPad Mini as a dedicated ebook reader? How well would MobileRead and Kindle apps work in the vertical mode? Thoughts, comments, opinions?

DJUNGELSKOG · 09-10-2026, 03:38 AM

Such a beautiful product, I would absolutely buy a gen 2 or gen 3 after the others have beta tested it for me

Martinoptic · 09-10-2026, 04:29 AM

Very expensive though. More than a phone and iPad together.

drofgnal · 09-10-2026, 04:32 AM

I'm sure thinking about one. I made a mistake when buying a 16 pro and going with the the smaller pro vs pro max. When I travel for work, I usually don't take a dedicated reader, I just read on my phone where I try to efficiently take as little as possible. It's too small for me for comfortable reading. I also have trouble typing on the 16 pro vs my old 13 pro max where I constantly hit the wrong key.

The Duo would solve all that Folded it would suffice for day to day use as a phone, but be unfolded for a reader. But OTOH, I'm thinking of going back to pro max. I don't want to be an early adopter and the 18 pro max has better battery life. It's a tough call but with the pro max about 800 bucks with trade in of my 16 pro and the duo about 1500 I may just upgrade to 18 pro max.

rantanplan · 09-10-2026, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinoptic

Very expensive though. More than a phone and iPad together.

I think the reason for that is the chip crisis, but also I imagine that Apple never really wanted to have this product so now they put something out that is unreasonable expensive with a sub-par camera.

Yapyap · 09-10-2026, 05:08 AM

As someone whose smartphones over the years have all been from the Samsung Galaxy S-series (using S24+ now and in no hurry to replace it), I thought the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 looked cool (the first time I’ve had this impression with their folding phones at all) but absolutely insanely expensive, and this is .. like, a LOT more expensive. So, a big nope for me, LOL.

But also, I have had good quality phones + a couple of iPads over the years and I absolutely detest even trying to read on any of them, beyond scrolling social media or reading the news for 5-15 minutes at a time (on the iPad, I’ve tried all sorts of tricks with the lighting, and even reading Reddit or the news for more than 15 minutes makes my eyes itch and dry), so I can’t see how it (or any other phone) would possibly be an “all in one” device for my use case. I can read books on paper or on e-ink; I can’t read books on backlit screens, as it turns out.

For people who (a) enjoy reading on their current phone screen anyway, and (b) intend to buy this new device anyway to replace their current phone (or phone + ipad combo), I imagine it’ll work well for their use case though.

Deskisamess · 09-10-2026, 07:42 AM

I'd like to see one and handle it. But the price tag is out of my range, plus I'd rather wait for the second generation and let other early adopters work out the kinks.

My iPhone 13 Pro still works perfectly and fits well in my smaller cross body purses. I'm not sure about the size of the Duo and how it would fit in a back pocket etc. My hands are on the small side.

JSWolf · 09-10-2026, 08:43 AM

The one rule for Apple that should always be followed.

NEVER BUY A 1ST GENERATION OF ANY APPLE PRODUCT!

The Old Man · 09-10-2026, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The one rule for Apple that should always be followed.

NEVER BUY A 1ST GENERATION OF ANY APPLE PRODUCT!

Bought an Apple ][, first generation, never had so much fun!

In fact, owing the first generation of any Apple product may be worth big bucks today.

JSWolf · 09-10-2026, 09:26 AM

Look at how bad the 1st gen iPad was. It was a total disaster.

danicca · 09-10-2026, 09:28 AM

I'm very curious about the screen, because the comment I saw was that it had matte finish on screen. I don't know if that was subjective opionion of poster, but now I'm waiting for more detailed review.

DJUNGELSKOG · 09-10-2026, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danicca

I'm very curious about the screen, because the comment I saw was that it had matte finish on screen. I don't know if that was subjective opionion of poster, but now I'm waiting for more detailed review.

According to this video https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/09...-duo-hands-on/ it does have a matte finish.

JSWolf · 09-10-2026, 09:43 AM

A possible advantage to waiting for the 2nd gen is it may have user replaceable batteries thanks to the EU.

Gormagon · 09-10-2026, 10:00 AM

Looks like Apple copied the Xiaomi 18 Fold, which was released before the Duo. Although the 18 Fold may only be available in the PRC.

The Old Man · 09-10-2026, 10:20 AM

Well, love to play with the Duo but my iPhone works fine and my Mini is great for reading and everything else. So, Apple, good luck but count me out.

09-09-2026, 04:15 PM	#1
The Old Man Guru Posts: 649 Karma: 1606819 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini	iPhone Duo your thoughts Just watched the Apple Event. Would the Duo replace my iPad Mini as a dedicated ebook reader? How well would MobileRead and Kindle apps work in the vertical mode? Thoughts, comments, opinions?

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09-10-2026, 03:38 AM	#2
DJUNGELSKOG Addict Posts: 213 Karma: 2420042 Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Belgium / Vlaanderen Device: Kobo Libra 2 + Vivlio Light HD + (ancient) iPad Pro	Such a beautiful product, I would absolutely buy a gen 2 or gen 3 after the others have beta tested it for me

09-10-2026, 04:29 AM	#3
Martinoptic Bibliophist Posts: 9,186 Karma: 8582523 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: England Device: none	Very expensive though. More than a phone and iPad together.

09-10-2026, 04:32 AM	#4
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,519 Karma: 10827780 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I'm sure thinking about one. I made a mistake when buying a 16 pro and going with the the smaller pro vs pro max. When I travel for work, I usually don't take a dedicated reader, I just read on my phone where I try to efficiently take as little as possible. It's too small for me for comfortable reading. I also have trouble typing on the 16 pro vs my old 13 pro max where I constantly hit the wrong key. The Duo would solve all that Folded it would suffice for day to day use as a phone, but be unfolded for a reader. But OTOH, I'm thinking of going back to pro max. I don't want to be an early adopter and the 18 pro max has better battery life. It's a tough call but with the pro max about 800 bucks with trade in of my 16 pro and the duo about 1500 I may just upgrade to 18 pro max.

09-10-2026, 05:08 AM	#6
Yapyap Guru Posts: 981 Karma: 5555555 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Oasis 2, Boox Go 7 Colour Gen II, Boox Go 10.3	As someone whose smartphones over the years have all been from the Samsung Galaxy S-series (using S24+ now and in no hurry to replace it), I thought the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 looked cool (the first time I’ve had this impression with their folding phones at all) but absolutely insanely expensive, and this is .. like, a LOT more expensive. So, a big nope for me, LOL. But also, I have had good quality phones + a couple of iPads over the years and I absolutely detest even trying to read on any of them, beyond scrolling social media or reading the news for 5-15 minutes at a time (on the iPad, I’ve tried all sorts of tricks with the lighting, and even reading Reddit or the news for more than 15 minutes makes my eyes itch and dry), so I can’t see how it (or any other phone) would possibly be an “all in one” device for my use case. I can read books on paper or on e-ink; I can’t read books on backlit screens, as it turns out. For people who (a) enjoy reading on their current phone screen anyway, and (b) intend to buy this new device anyway to replace their current phone (or phone + ipad combo), I imagine it’ll work well for their use case though.

09-10-2026, 07:42 AM	#7
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,837 Karma: 46117477 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	I'd like to see one and handle it. But the price tag is out of my range, plus I'd rather wait for the second generation and let other early adopters work out the kinks. My iPhone 13 Pro still works perfectly and fits well in my smaller cross body purses. I'm not sure about the size of the Duo and how it would fit in a back pocket etc. My hands are on the small side.

09-10-2026, 08:43 AM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 84,970 Karma: 153791427 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The one rule for Apple that should always be followed. NEVER BUY A 1ST GENERATION OF ANY APPLE PRODUCT!

09-10-2026, 09:26 AM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 84,970 Karma: 153791427 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Look at how bad the 1st gen iPad was. It was a total disaster.

09-10-2026, 09:28 AM	#11
danicca Addict Posts: 301 Karma: 517736 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: kindle	I'm very curious about the screen, because the comment I saw was that it had matte finish on screen. I don't know if that was subjective opionion of poster, but now I'm waiting for more detailed review.

09-10-2026, 09:43 AM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 84,970 Karma: 153791427 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	A possible advantage to waiting for the 2nd gen is it may have user replaceable batteries thanks to the EU.

09-10-2026, 10:00 AM	#14
Gormagon monstrous mythical beast Posts: 184 Karma: 5078180 Join Date: May 2023 Location: Klopstokia Device: Tab Ultra C, Meebook P78 Pro, Viwoods AIPaper Reader, various NXTPAPER	Looks like Apple copied the Xiaomi 18 Fold, which was released before the Duo. Although the 18 Fold may only be available in the PRC.

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09-10-2026, 10:20 AM	#15
The Old Man Guru Posts: 649 Karma: 1606819 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini	Well, love to play with the Duo but my iPhone works fine and my Mini is great for reading and everything else. So, Apple, good luck but count me out.