5 Unique iPhone Duo Features That Set It Apart from Other Foldable Smartphones
Following the release of the iPhone Duo, much discussion has emerged about the unique offerings Apple will present in its first premium foldable smartphone. The foldable smartphone market is no longer new territory; innovations have already been made and brand names have long been part of the foldable market. This fact has naturally raised concerns about Apple’s ability to stand alongside other brands that have long competed in the foldable market.
Apple is indeed accustomed to a production style of waiting for other companies to experiment with new technologies first. Many Apple products were not the first in their market, yet there are always improvements and interesting features implemented in its products whenever the company finally decides to enter a market.
The iPhone Duo is one product that fits this pattern. Although it is Apple’s first premium foldable smartphone, here are the features that set the iPhone Duo apart from other foldables:
The iPhone Duo offers a seamless transition from the front screen (5.4 inches) to the inner foldable display (7.6 inches). If you are viewing text or a video on the front screen and then open the device into the wide display, the iPhone Duo maintains its aspect ratio as the smartphone is opened.
On other brands’ foldable smartphones, when you open the device from the small screen to the large display whilst reading an article, the screen layout changes to accommodate the shift in aspect ratio. Text rewraps, images resize, and your reading position may shift. The iPhone Duo is different, keeping the screen layout stable.
“Other brands also provide transitions from the outer to the inner screen, but there is a noticeable lag compared with the iPhone Duo. Moving between the two screens on the iPhone Duo is smoother and more instant, and there is even a neat little animation as an app transitions from one screen to the other,” said one iPhone Duo user, Brenda Stolyar of the New York Times (10/9).
Whilst other brands’ foldable smartphones have visibly shaped front cameras, the iPhone Duo’s camera is hidden beneath the inner display so that it is unobtrusive.
This camera remains hidden under the inner screen and appears only when in use, such as during FaceTime calls or when taking photos. The hidden front camera gives users an uninterrupted full-screen experience, particularly when watching films or videos.
Not only that, the iPhone Duo also has useful camera features, such as Duo Preview, which helps someone see themselves on the outer screen when their photo is being taken, allowing them to adjust their pose in real time until the result they see in Duo Preview is satisfying. There is also Kid Cue, which displays adorable cartoon animations on the outer screen to attract a child’s attention and make them look towards the camera when parents take their photo.
The iPhone Duo features a matte anti-glare display that has never before been applied to other foldable smartphones, so using the iPhone Duo under lamplight or sunlight will not be disturbed by reflected glare. Because light cannot reflect off the iPhone Duo’s fold, the crease on the screen gains a subtle, faint effect, making the display fold less noticeable to users.
The material used for the iPhone Duo’s hinge is titanium, with Apple Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back. Apple layers high-strength glass above and below the folding panel to reduce bending stress at the crease rather than holding it back. The titanium hinge also adds stiffness, making the hinge more rigid than those of other foldable smartphones.
The iPhone Duo’s IP68 rating also shows the product is dust- and water-resistant, making the iPhone Duo a durable foldable smartphone.
According to an Apple press release issued on Wednesday (9/9), the iPhone Duo will support the Apple Pencil USB-C feature. Although there is no confirmed date yet, this feature will make it easier for users to carry out many activities with the iPhone Duo.