Apple's iPhone Duo Faces 4 Key Flaws as Reviewer Says Most Are Fixable

Q: Will the inconvenience of unfolding the device for high-quality selfies ultimately kill the iPhone Duo's appeal for everyday users?

Probably not. The need to unfold the iPhone Duo for the best selfies looks more like a niche annoyance than an appeal-killer for most buyers. The weakness is real: the inner under-display 4MP FaceTime camera produces soft, heavily processed images, and reviewers broadly agree it is poor for premium selfies. But Apple does not appear to intend that camera to be the main selfie tool. Users have two better options: the 12MP outer selfie camera for convenience, and the 48MP rear cameras with the outer display or unfolded screen as a viewfinder for much higher quality. That workflow is slower, but it is also one of the foldable’s signature advantages, not just a workaround. For everyday users, convenience usually matters more than maximum image quality. In practice, many people will use the outer 12MP camera for quick snaps and video calls, then switch to the rear cameras only when they want a better photo. That is a compromise, but not an unusual one in foldables, where form factor often trades simplicity for flexibility. The bigger risk to mainstream appeal is cumulative friction: the weak inner camera, unfinished app optimization, and early software bugs together can make the Duo feel less polished than a standard iPhone at a very high $1,999 price. If Apple and developers quickly improve software, the selfie inconvenience is unlikely to define the product. If those broader usability issues linger, it could become part of a larger case against the Duo for ordinary buyers.

3 articles · Updated · Mashable · Oct 23

A week of daily use found the iPhone Duo's biggest confirmed weakness is its 4-megapixel inner FaceTime camera, which produces poor selfies despite heavy AI processing.
Apple partly offsets that with alternatives: the 48-megapixel main cameras can deliver excellent selfies, while the 12-megapixel outer selfie camera is serviceable but below recent iPhone standards.
App support is uneven because many developers have not yet optimized for the Duo's large inner screen, leaving some major apps stretched or boxed, though at least 10 frequently used apps were updated during the review period.
Software bugs appear real but limited, including orientation glitches in WhatsApp and occasional display confusion after folding or unfolding; the reviewer expects Apple to patch most issues within 1 to 2 months.
Hinge durability remains the biggest unknown: a 10,000-fold test still left the mechanism smooth, but long-term crease wear after years of use is still unclear.