Today, Motorola has shared a whole lot more info on its brand-new Signature 27 — packing the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 I tested and a retina-searing 12,000-nit display. But not only will it test your eyes, it will test the limits of your wallet.

This is a $1,599 phone. Yowzers. Pre-sales will go live on November 16.

Motorola, the company that has spent the last decade charming us with accessible mid-range and affordable phones, has jumped straight into the ultra-flagship pool. And to justify this phone compared to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, it built a device with a spec sheet that's absurdly overpowered.

Throw the kitchen sink at it

If you’re going to charge $1,600 for a slab phone in this economy, you have to throw the kitchen sink at it. Turns out Motorola chucked the entire plumbing system in there for good measure — packing it all into a rather suave, slimline design.

Let’s start with the screen — a 1.5K Extreme AMOLED Duo tandem display that peaks at a bonkers 12,000 nits of brightness. For context, Motorola says users can “comfortably view” this “on a sunny afternoon,” but it’s closer to being able to read a map on the surface of the sun.

And for when you do want to flashbang your eyeballs with TikTok, there’s Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers, too!

Under the hood is that Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, which as you know from my testing is an absolute monster. This is kept from melting your hands by an ArcticMesh cooling system with a massive vapor chamber.

And to keep that silicon running, Motorola’s crammed in a gargantuan 7,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery that supports 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

Snap happy

To further justify that astronomical price tag, Motorola strapped a camera block to the back of the phone that is bordering on clinical insanity. I’ll be real with you, it does look a bit weird to me. But I promise it’s functions are crazy.

The main shooter is a 50MP Sony sensor with a massive f/1.6 aperture designed to suck in as much light as physically possible. Next to it is a 50MP ultrawide, but the real flex is the 200MP periscope sensor capable of 100x Super Zoom Pro.

Need to take a selfie? That’s also a 50MP sensor, capable of shooting full 4K video.

But the wildest addition in my eyes is the industry’s first dedicated EVS “Action Sensor.” It’s not a camera; it’s a dedicated piece of hardware whose sole job is to detect pixel-level light intensity changes to freeze fast-moving subjects without blurring. Think of it like the equivalent of having a super fast shutter speed — something that’s a rarity in smartphones.

Pair that with Dolby Vision support and an AI video enhancement engine that optimizes dynamic range in real-time, and you effectively have a full camera rig in your pocket.

The AI tax

The Signature 27 is explicitly designed to run Gemini Intelligence and the brand’s own Qira AI ecosystem. To run the multi-step AI agents locally, Motorola needed to boost the RAM, which they’ve done in a rather clever way.

In silicon, you’ve got up to 16GB LPDDR5X, but with the RAM boost feature, that can be scaled up to a staggering 24GB of memory — utilizing some of the on-board storage.

This paves the way to a clever hybrid system where Gemini handles the super complex generative stuff, but local model work is entirely possible too. However, it does explain why the retail price has been driven into the stratosphere.

The flagship killer is dead

The Motorola Signature 27 is looking set to be a gorgeous, hyper-capable device that will likely outspec almost everything else released.

But it is also a 12,000-nit warning sign. Between Apple’s price hikes and Motorola’s $1,599 super slab, the era of an “affordable flagship killer” is behind us. If you want top-tier specs in this market, there’s quite the premium to pay.

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• 5 seriously useful iPhone Duo hacks you need to know

There's already been lots of rumors about how Apple will redesign the iPhone 20 and commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone's release. One of the most prominent rumors claims that the device could feature an all-glass design, with no cutouts or notches for the camera and Face ID hardware.

However, according to leaker Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 20's display will indeed feature holes for the Dynamic Island. He doesn't go into much detail about this particular design feature, but it's not all that surprising now that we've seen the iPhone Duo.

The rumors had claimed the iPhone 20 would hide the camera and Face ID beneath the screen, enabling the first truly full-screen iPhone experience. This was expected to tie into the curved glass design, which was rumored to include curved edges to simulate the appearance of a glass phone.

Of course, a Dynamic Island cutout means that illusion isn't going to be quite so convincing. You can't claim "all-glass" when there's an obvious hole at the top of the screen.

Of course, the problem with under-display camera technology is that the screen is in the way. Apple has made some headway: The iPhone Duo has an under-display FaceTime camera, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max moved Face ID's IR camera beneath the screen.

But the Duo's FaceTime camera is not great — with a resolution of 4 megapixels — and it certainly isn't the kind of camera you'd want to take selfies with. That's a common problem with under-display cameras, and it seems even Apple hasn't been able to figure out how to compensate for it.

Obviously, the Duo already has a 12MP front camera, as well as the ability to shoot selfies by combining the rear cameras with the outer display — so it's not a huge loss. But since the iPhone 20 won't be able to do any of those things, it seems unlikely that an under-display camera will be up to scratch.

This is a disappointing leak, and while there's no telling how things may actually pan out over the next several months, it makes sense that the iPhone 20 will keep the Dynamic Island around. The only question I have is whether the Dynamic Island will stay the same size, or if Apple will manage to trim it down even more.

Are you excited for a near all-glass iPhone 20? Sound off in the comments.

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• Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra rumors — release, display upgrades and everything we know so far

The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is coming, and it could be arriving sooner than you think. The big phone launches of 2026 are effectively over, now that the new iPhones are out of the way, and that means we can start looking at what major releases 2027 will have to offer.

Samsung is usually the first out of the gate, and rumor has it that the launch will be a little earlier than we're used to — suggesting a January release window. The Unpacked event is also said to include four new Galaxy S27-series phones, with a Pro model set to join the usual lineup. But, as ever, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is set to be the star of the show, with all the latest and best hardware Samsung has to offer.

Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra so far.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: Rumored Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: Design and display

We're not expecting any major changes to the size of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, and recently-leaked dummy units suggest that the dimensions of the upcoming phone will be very similar to those of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. And by very similar, I mean practically identical, with only a fraction of a millimeter's difference in width and thickness.

However, the big changes are set to happen on the back of the phone. Samsung is widely expected to ditch the vertical camera array of past Galaxy phones, in favor of a full-width camera bar — similar to that of the iPhone 18 Pro. This change is also supposed to come with the loss of the secondary telephoto lens, and turn the Ultra model into a triple-lens camera for the first time.

It's also been rumored that Samsung may finally employ an M16 OLED display on the S27 Ultra. This display is set to be brighter, and is the same material used on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. There are also rumors that the Ultra will feature "enhanced display brightness" to counteract the dimming caused by the Privacy Display.

As useful as the feature is, we found that it caused a loss of display brightness even when the Privacy Display setting is deactivated. So it's good to see that Samsung is proactively dealing with that issue with the next generation Privacy Display. The Privacy feature is also rumored to be getting some upgrades, but it's unclear what those might actually be.

Recently-leaked dummy units also suggest that the Ultra will retain its built-in S Pen, and rumor has it that Qi2 magnets will finally be added to the phone itself. That means no more having to buy special magnetic cases to make the most out of using Qi2 chargers and accessories. However, this feature may be exclusive to the Ultra and Pro models, with the Standard and Plus options missing out.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: Performance

The one thing that isn't a mystery is the S27 Ultra's performance hardware. We assumed the phone would come with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, and a recent leak seemingly confirmed that. Not that it was ever doubted that Samsung would opt for the most powerful Qualcomm chip on the market. The only real question we have is whether the phone will have a standard Extreme chip, or if a custom "for Galaxy" variant will be developed to offer stronger performance.

Our own early tests of the Extreme, using Qualcomm's reference device, reveal that the chip performed 29% better in Geekbench 7's single-core benchmark, and 16.3% better in the multi-core test. 3DMark's Solar Bay Extreme test shows a 49% increase in graphical power, or a 40% increase in Wildlife Extreme. Meanwhile AnTuTu's General AI benchmark showed an 18.4% increase, or a crazy 118% increase in AnTuTu's LLM AI test.

Obviously things are going to be a little different in a commercial phone, rather than a reference device that's built to perform well. But it shows just how much of an improvement we should see when the Galaxy S27 Ultra arrives next year. Needless to say this is going to be a powerful phone with a lot of AI capabilities.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: Cameras

Very little is known about the Galaxy S27 Ultra's cameras right now, other than the fact Samsung is seemingly scrapping the secondary telephoto lens. This means the Ultra model will match other premium phones with a single zooming lens, which we assume will still be the same 50MP lens with 5x optical magnification we saw on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

While that news may be disappointing to some, it's not a huge loss. The second telephoto lens was always fairly underpowered, with the last iteration offering 10MP of resolution and 3x optical zoom. The quality wasn't bad, but it also wasn't really a necessary feature to have. Particularly since telephoto lenses are expensive, hence why they're mostly found on premium phones, and take up a lot of space. Removing the second one adds extra space to the S27 Ultra, and hopefully helps avoid another price hike.

This would be the perfect time for Samsung to add variable optical zoom, which has been rumored for a few years and effectively squeezes two telephoto lenses into one. Sadly it's unclear whether that will actually happen, and the same is true for the possibility of getting variable aperture — a feature Samsung last offered in 2019.

Rumors instead suggest that the telephoto may drop to 4x magnification, with a larger 1/1.9-inch sensor to compensate. However, there are conflicting reports, and the S27 Ultra may instead just get the exact same zooming lens as the S26 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: Software & AI

We know software is going to be a huge part of the Samsung Galaxy S27 series, as it has been for the last few generations of Galaxy phones. Galaxy AI is one of those things that isn't going to vanish overnight, though at this early stage we have absolutely no idea what sort of features and capabilities will be coming to the S27 Ultra and its cohorts.

One possibility is the addition of MyFanCam, an AI-powered feature that debuted on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It works with existing footage that you've filmed, and uses AI to focus on a person of your choice. There's no reason why it couldn't exist on a Galaxy S phone, and the S27 launch is the perfect place to do it — especially if it has some much-needed upgrades, like the ability to focus on animals as well. We should also expect the phones to run on OneUI 9, possibly the updated OneUI 9.5, which is based on Android 17.

But, for the time being, any additional software and AI upgrades on the S27 Ultra are a complete mystery.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: Battery

The release of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 saw Samsung finally embrace silicon carbon batteries. The main benefit is that the increased energy density means you can include more battery capacity without increasing the actual physical dimensions of the battery. This allows for larger batteries that aren't physically larger, and don't increase the size and weight of phones by any significant amount.

Leaks suggest that Samsung will be adopting the same technology in the Galaxy S27 Ultra, increasing the size of the battery from 5,000 mAh to 5,700 mAh. That's quite an upgrade, considering Galaxy Ultra phones have been stuck at 5,000 mAh for the past six years, though whether it will help the S27 Ultra climb the ranks of our best phone battery life page isn't clear yet. We'll need to wait and see how it performs during battery life testing.

Furthermore, it's unclear whether charging speed will change at all, considering the S26 Ultra upped the ante from 45W wired charging to 60W. However the rumored inclusion of Qi2 magnetic charging means that wireless charging should be much easier — even if it doesn't happen any faster.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra: Outlook

There's still a lot we don't know about the Galaxy S27 Ultra, but so far we're hearing about some promising things. Sure, the loss of a camera lens might be disappointing to some, but we are still getting some positive changes. A larger battery is something Galaxy users have been demanding for years, and the inclusion of Qi2 magnets means that Samsung is now on par with Apple and Google in the wireless charging game.

On top of that, we have the possibility of a brighter display, which takes the Privacy Display into account, and performance that should be some of the best you can get on any smartphone. The redesign is... interesting. It's clearly iPhone-inspired, which is both good and bad, and while people may not like the change I think it's good to see Samsung mix things up a bit.

There is still plenty of time for new information to leak, and that means we'll start getting a more complete picture of what the Galaxy S27 Ultra has to offer as the weeks and months roll on. Until the inevitable January Unpacked, where Samsung reveals the whole lineup in full. But until then, be sure to check back here for all the latest news and rumors about the upcoming flagships.

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• iPhone Duo just got a usability feature it should have had at launch, thanks to iOS 27.3

Apple’s biggest ever change to the iPhone formula brought some unique features and scene-stealing upgrades when it was revealed back in September. But now that we’re actually getting our hands on the device (well, some of us are), it turns out there’s a lot more underneath that 7.6-inch nano texture display to discover.

Alongside the likes of Smart Take and Kid Cue, the iPhone Duo has a bunch of cool tricks that can help with usability or productivity that I’ve started to use during my time with the phone. If you’re planning to pick up an iPhone Duo for yourself, you may want to give some of these a try.

Portrait Picture-in-Picture

The iPhone Duo is the first iPhone to allow you to run two apps side-by-side but only if you’re holding it in landscape orientation. One of the frustrations our Global Editor-in-Chief Mark pointed out recently is that you lose the functionality as soon as you rotate it into portrait mode.

This isn’t exactly a silver bullet to that problem, but you can utilize picture-in-picture to snap a video to the top of the portrait orientation whilst keeping a separate app running below, or vice versa.

To accomplish it, start any video app and minimize it into picture-in-picture mode. When you start a second app, the minimized video will generate a new button next to the full-screen option that automatically expands it to just the top of the display. It will automatically resize the secondary app to take up the lower half of the screen.

Tap for Control Center

Over the years, iPhone users have grown accustomed to swiping down from the top-right of the display to open the Control Center. On the Duo, you’re given a one-handed shortcut through the new icon that displays your Wi-Fi and cell reception.

Usually, it just sits there being useful, but if you tap on it, it’ll launch you straight into the Control Center without having to reach up with your thumb to swipe down.

Edge Light

Apple has borrowed the Edge Light feature from macOS and added it to the iPhone Duo’s repertoire. If you’ve not used it before (I hadn’t) then it turns the border of your display into a virtual ring light. This serves to give you some nice illumination when you’re on a video call in dim light.

Edge Light is only available when the iPhone Duo is unfolded. To enable it, open Control Center while on a video call and tap the colored control bar labelled “FaceTime controls”. Then tap on the light bulb button next to "Edge Light" in the video effects menu. You can manually adjust the brightness and hue of the light or hit the Automatic toggle to have the Duo analyze the ambient light in the room and adjust accordingly.

Fixed Position Volume Controls

The decision to put the iPhone Duo’s volume controls on the top of the phone is one that takes some getting used to. If you’re using the phone unfolded, and you happen to rotate it with the volume keys on the bottom, things can get awkward. That’s because the default configuration fixes the right button as volume up and the left as volume down — even if you’re holding the phone upside down.

If you want to set the buttons to dynamically adjust depending on the Duo’s orientation, you can find that option under Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Fixed Position Volume.

Once you disengage it, the button on the right in any position will always increase the volume while the left decreases it. It would still be better to have them on the side in the first place, but that’s a job for the iPhone Duo 2.

Folding Shortcuts

Tucked inside the Shortcuts app is a new feature that’s exclusive to the iPhone Duo called “Open or Closed.” This lets you automate a shortcut based on whether the phone is open or closed. So, for example, you could create one to open the Books app automatically when you unfold the iPhone Duo.

In order to activate it, you need to open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone Duo, tap the + button in the bottom corner, then tap Edit in the top right corner. From there, tap the Automation option that appears at the top of the options list and scroll down to “Open or Closed” under the Display section.

Once you have that in place, find the Open App command and choose the app you want to launch. When you exit the Shortcuts app it will activate immediately.

Bottom Line

Apple missed iOS 27.1 for all non-folding iPhones, instead jumping straight to iOS 27.2 (and now, iOS 27.3) for the likes of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and leaving iOS 27.1 a Duo exclusive. In all likelihood, that was due to some of the custom designs and features only available on the Duo.

As the Duo gets into more hands around the world and developers start to optimize their apps for the first folding iPhone, I expect we’ll see many more cool new Duo exclusive features coming to the fore. I’m particularly interested to see if Apple can expand on Split View multitasking to make it even better as the Duo matures.

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The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is coming in early 2027, and while we haven't heard a lot about the phone so far, it looks like the floodgates are starting to open. The latest leaks seem to reveal more details about the phone's design, as well as a possible performance change that could prove very disappointing for those of you hoping to pick up the new S27 Ultra.

We've already seen design leaks that showcase the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new look, swapping the vertical camera array for a horizontal camera bar — which is reminiscent of the "Raised Plateau" Apple debuted on iPhone 17 Pro Max. Now dummy units of that design have appeared online courtesy of Android Headline, letting us visualize that design as a real phone.

Dummy units are, of course, no substitute for the real thing. However they do give us an idea of what using these phones might be like.

Takeaways from the dummy units include changes to the camera, which includes removing the 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The telephoto does look quite small, but that's only because the S26 Ultra's telephoto had a deceptive design. So it's unclear what this means for the camera hardware.

The actual dimensions of the phone haven't really changed. The S27 Ultra dummy unit measures 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm (6.44 x 3.0 x 0.31 inches), compared to 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9mm on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Which means the size difference is barely distinguishable. So really, the main visual changes come in the form of the camera setup.

Android Headline also notes that the design includes a built-in S Pen, alongside magnets to facilitate full Qi2 wireless charging. I don't see the magnets on the dummy unit or the CAD renders they're based on, so take that particular rumor with a healthy dose of scepticism.

A strange performance split

Those of you hoping for a super-powered S27 series may be disappointed, though. While we fully expect that the Ultra model will come with the newly-unveiled Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (or a custom "for Galaxy" variant), the same may not be true of the S27 Pro.

Notebookcheck recently uncovered listings for all four Galaxy S27 models in the import-export database NBD. It reveals that the S27 Pro may come with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, the successor to the current Elite Gen 5 chipset in the S26 series. This chip is still being build on a 2nm process, with all the performance and efficiency benefits that affords, but it's not the absolute best chip Qualcomm will have on offer.

The Extreme Gen 6 chip is supposed to come with better computing, graphics and neural performance, as well as the ability to record videos in 8K resolution at 60 frames per second.

The regular Elite Gen 6 is limited to 30fps, and while the ability to record in 8K isn't going to appeal to everyone, it shows that the Extreme chip is the superior option. Certainly from a performance point of view, and that could be enough to push people away from the Pro model.

That said, a less impressive chip is likely cheaper, and means Samsung could be trying to avoid unnecessary costs that would need to be passed on to the consumer.

The listings also reveal that the international versions of the S27 and S27 Plus could run on the Exynos 2700 chipset, rather than a Snapdragon chip. Though Samsung has been doing that for years, and it's not really that surprising.

The same listings feature screen size too, with the S27, S27 Plus and S27 Ultra offering the same 6.3-, 6.7- and 6.9-inch displays as their predecessors. Meanwhile the Pro is set to offer a 6.5-inch display, and sit between the S27 and its plus-sized counterpart.

The Galaxy S27 series is expected to arrive in January, and we here at Tom's Guide will be watching for all the latest news and rumors to keep you up to date. Stay tuned for more.

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I’ve been testing the iPhone 18 Pro Max ever since it launched in September, putting it through some marquee matchups against rivals like the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro XL. Honestly, it’s the best camera phone around, thanks largely to its strong main camera performance, low-light capabilities, mechanical variable aperture, and new Pro Controls. I didn’t think another phone could come close to matching it, but I was wrong.

It’s been years since I last tested an Oppo device, mostly because stateside availability has always kept them just out of reach for the average consumer. But after putting the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max through its paces for the past month, it’s become my favorite camera phone.

You’d think its triple 200MP camera suite would be what truly puts it ahead of the pack, but it turns out to be the game-changing attachable Hasselblad lens that really seals the deal for me. Far from a gimmicky clip-on accessory, this optic unlocks the optical reach, depth, and fidelity that genuinely make it close to replacing my mirrorless camera. Here’s why.

Don’t fooled by megapixels

One of my colleagues already drilled down into an Oppo Find X10 Pro Max vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max photo face-off, so I’m not going to rehash why the Oppo came out on top. Instead, I’m going to show and tell you what makes the Find X10 Pro Max stand out from the many other camera phones I’ve tested this year.

First and foremost, it starts with the hardware — a triple 200MP camera system. I’ll be the first to tell you that you should never judge a camera simply by the number of megapixels it claims. You have to evaluate the rest of the equation, especially sensor sizes and apertures.

The 200MP main shooter features a large 1/1.3-inch sensor, a wide f/1.5 aperture, and OIS. Equally notable is the 200MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom, boasting a sizable 1/1.56-inch sensor and f/2.1 aperture.

That telephoto sensor is critical: through sensor cropping and Oppo’s processing algorithms, it pulls off a staggering 120x digital zoom. That easily eclipses the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s 40x ceiling, giving me triple the zoom reach of Apple's flagship. In fact, the only other phone I’ve tested this year that matches that level of reach is the Pixel 11 Pro XL.

It’s a low-light champ, great for astrophotography

For me, the true test is how well a phone behaves under low light — and the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max is an absolute beast. Take a look at that first shot above I captured at sunset by the beach, which handles the stark contrast in lighting exceptionally well.

With the sun dipping over the horizon, the golden glow never overpowers the scene, maintaining a rich contrast across the foreground elements. But what’s even more impressive is the sheer number of stars it resolves in the process, cleanly rendering the Pleiades star cluster right alongside the twilight sky.

The Find X10 Pro Max pulls in astonishing amounts of light without relying on overly aggressive computational brightening that turns dark night skies into a noisy mess. You can see it across the rest of the sample shots above. For the best results, I recommend switching over to its "Master" mode, which lets you fine-tune the manual exposure settings to your exact liking.

Unmatched native zoom

Flagships aren’t just defined by their main cameras; they also live or die by versatile telephoto systems that pull you closer to distant subjects while preserving fine detail. On its own, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max’s native periscope camera is an absolute powerhouse. Whether I’m trying to read small text on a distant street sign or resolve faint details across a landscape, it doesn't disappoint.

I can clearly tell that computational processing kicks in at longer focal lengths, but virtually all modern flagships leverage AI upscaling to draw out fine textures. Just look at the first set of shots I captured by the waterfront, where I start with the ultrawide camera and step through all the primary focal lengths all the way to 120x.

The distant building across the inlet is practically indistinguishable in the ultrawide frame, but it sharpens into view with each successive crop — culminating in a 120x capture that brings into focus the individual bricks along the exterior wall, blades of grass in the foreground, and distinct roof shingles.

You can see its resolving power in some of the other sets of images, like pulling out intricate architectural carvings across the facade of the New York Public Library and keeping street signs fully legible from across the road.

My personal favorite is the shot of the bearded dragon I captured through its glass enclosure. What’s impressive is the staggering amount of detail, which makes it look like I had the lens parked right in front of its face based on the tight framing and definition — but in reality, I was standing about a foot away.

Mind-boggling reach with the Hasselblad telephoto converter kit

Lastly, I want to talk about what truly sets the Find X10 Pro Max apart: the Hasselblad telephoto converter kit. I’ve tested plenty of add-on lenses for both iPhones and Android devices over the years, and while some perform better than others, they almost always compromise on raw optical quality. What changes the game here is that this converter kit was engineered specifically to match the optics of the Find X10 Pro Max’s telephoto sensor — and the difference in output is immediately noticeable.

It's quickly become my go-to tool for nature and wildlife photography, letting me pull tight frames on distant subjects without disturbing them. The best part isn’t just the staggering amount of detail it captures — like in the first bird photo below, where you can easily make out individual feathers — it’s the authentic subject-background separation that only real optical glass can provide.

You can clearly see that depth across the sample gallery above, from the defined texture in the squirrel's bushy tail along the wooden railing to the details of nesting birds. The creamy background blur produced by this telephoto setup is remarkable, giving every frame a professional look without computational makeover. In fact, there are times when I genuinely struggle to tell the difference between these shots and those from a dedicated mirrorless camera.

After spending a full month with the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max, it’s clear that groundbreaking mobile camera innovation is thriving outside the usual suspects like Apple, Samsung, and Google. Between its versatile triple 200MP sensor array, superb low-light and astrophotography performance, and a native periscope zoom capable of reaching out to a killer 120x, it delivers every bit of the flagship-tier performance I look for.

But it’s the modular Hasselblad telephoto converter kit that truly elevates this device from a fantastic camera phone into an unmatched creative tool — delivering authentic 10x optical reach, crisp framing, and stabilized long-range shots that genuinely bridge the gap to a dedicated mirrorless setup.

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The iPhone Duo adapted iOS 27 for a new form factor but, in the process, got some criticism for the decision to lock the taskbar to the right-hand side. In fact, if you're a leftie and want to use the Duo with a single hand, you've got to use the non-dominant one.

That situation just got a little better with the arrival of the iOS 27.3 developer beta this week. The update brings Reachability to the iPhone Duo, allowing users to move the content within reach, just as you can on a candybar iPhone.

Only instead of shifting the content from the top down, the Duo will now let users swipe left from the left or right from the right edge of the screen to bring it within striking distance of your preferred thumb.

For left-handed users, it's a step in the right direction, and it will work on both the 5.4-inch outer display and the 7.6-inch nano-textured inner display.

Reachability will be turned on by default once the software update is installed, but if you want to find it yourself, head to Settings > Accessibility > Reachability.

Siri AI is about to be let loose

Alongside bringing Reachability to the Duo, 27.3 will also give Siri AI a much bigger playground to explore across iOS, macOS, iPadOS and visionOS. The upgraded assistant will now work inside Music, Messages, Photos, Calendar and Reminders, letting users, for example, ask it to build a specific playlist in Apple Music or create Calendar events.

Going further, Apple is also opening Siri AI's capabilities up to third-party developers via App Intents. Essentially, this could make good on the promise years ago that Apple Intelligence would be able to work across a user's apps to build a personal context.

Back in 2024, then-CEO Tim Cook laid out what set Apple's AI plans apart: “Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user’s personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence."

It seems like reality is about to finally caught up to the vision.

"Today’s preview allows any app to bring its content and actions directly into Siri AI by using App Intents, making it easier for all apps to tap into Siri AI’s newest capabilities, including personal context understanding, onscreen awareness, natural language, and more," Apple posted on its developer site.

"So people can just ask for help in their own words, and Siri AI carries out any custom action you’ve built, from checking a delivery to booking a reservation to placing an order. For complex requests, we’re also introducing skills to let you teach Siri AI how to combine several actions into a single experience."

The public release for iOS 27.3 is planned for later this year, at which point we could really see Siri AI start to spread its wings.

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If you want to get your hands on an iPhone Duo, you've got a long wait ahead of you. Current iPhone Duo wait times stretch to the end of the year and into January, depending on where you order from. The question on everyone's mind is when the supply issue is going to be fixed, and the current answer is... that we have no idea.

In fact, Apple CEO John Ternus doesn't really have an answer for that question, either. Speaking to Reuters, following Apple's latest earnings report, Apple's new head honcho admitted the company can't make any sort of predictions.

"Duo is constrained as of today. The ramp is going well, and we're working hard to get it to as many customers as quickly as possible," Ternus said. "But at this point, we're not able to predict when supply and demand will be in balance."

Obviously, when the CEO of the company can't comment on supply issues, you know the situation is pretty bad. Though whether it's because Ternus really doesn't know when supply and demand will equalize, or because he simply doesn't want to make any promises that may not be kept, isn't clear.

Apple did seem surprised that the iPhone Duo has been in such high demand, and it's possible that the company is simply being overly cautious. Because there's little point in getting hopes up until Apple can be sure Duo shortages have a firm end date.

It certainly doesn't help that scalpers seem to be trying to snatch up the iPhone Duo to sell on at a premium. As is the case with a lot of in-demand items, scalpers have been employing bots to grab as much stock as they can, including any Duo units that become available for in-store pickup.

In other words, trying to pick up an iPhone Duo before the end of the year is effectively a losing battle. You're far better off trying to be patient and ordering through one of the major carriers and retailers. Wait times are already stretching into January at most retailers, and it doesn't sound like things are going to get better.

So the sooner you get your order in, the sooner you'll actually get hold of it. You can see the current delivery estimates for the biggest carriers and retailers in our guide to iPhone Duo wait times.

More from Tom's Guide

• We've tested the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Max — here's the phone you should actually buy
• iPhone Duo 2 is inevitable — and these are the 7 things we want to see
• iPhone Duo has been hard to get because Apple did almost everything wrong — here's what we know

We're pretty much done for major phone launches in 2026, certainly for devices that will be coming to the U.S. and Europe, which means it's time to start looking forward to what might be coming next year. And, as usual, we expect the first big release of the year to be Samsung's Galaxy S27 series.

The S27 series is said to be made up of four phones: The Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus, Galaxy S27 Ultra and the new Galaxy S27 Pro. We've started hearing some rumors about what those phones could have to offer, including one of the first major redesigns Galaxy phones have had for several years. Obviously there are a few things we also really want to see on these phones as well.

So here are the top seven changes we want to see on the Samsung Galaxy S27.

Larger silicon carbon batteries

Galaxy battery capacity does not change much, if ever. In fact the Galaxy S Ultra batteries have been stuck on the 5,000 mAh plateau since 2020. Meanwhile companies like OnePlus have been offering over 7,000 mAh batteries without any meaningful change to the design.

Frankly, people are sick of it, and it's time the Galaxy S27 changed that. Thankfully Samsung has shown that it can do this, thanks to the introduction of silicon carbon batteries in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. This technology allows for greater energy density, meaning you can offer more battery capacity without increasing the size of the battery.

Rumors suggest this may be happening too, with the S27 Ultra reportedly getting a 5,700 mAh battery. The S27 Pro is tipped to get a 5,200 mAh battery, though we don't know what the S27 and S27 Plus might be getting. We hope they'll get an increase from the 4,300 mAh and 4,900mAh batteries on their S26 counterparts.

Magnetic wireless charging

One of my biggest gripes with Android phones is how so few of them have adopted the full Qi2 wireless charging standard — complete with the magnetic charging ring. Samsung is one such offender, adding Qi2 charging technology, while relying on special cases to add the magnetic support.

Many reasons have been given over the past couple of years, ranging from issues with the S Pen to the fact the camera bump blocks where the magnetic ring should sit. Whatever the reason, it's high time that Samsung got its act together and added Qi2 magnets to its phones, and the S27 series' redesign is the perfect place to do it.

A better Privacy Display

The Privacy Display is one of the best features on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but it definitely needs some improvements. In particular, Samsung needs to counteract the fact the Privacy Display dims the screen — even when the feature is switched off.

Brighter screens offer huge visibility benefits, especially in bright conditions, and that shouldn't be affected by a new screen feature. Especially if you're not actually using it.

Similarly viewing angles are also reduced, even when the privacy features are switched off, which is far from ideal. I'd also like to see more control over the Privacy Display and the parts of the screen that are blacked out — rather than letting the phone handle everything automatically.

Upgraded camera features

Samsung has a habit of neglecting the camera hardware on some of its phones, particularly the cheaper models like the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus. 50MP main lenses are fine, but 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto lenses aren't befitting a flagship device. It doesn't matter that they don't bear the Ultra branding.

At the very least the S27 and S27 Plus need a higher resolution ultrawide lens, ideally something closer to 50MP. Any extra upgrades on the telephoto lens will be a nice bonus.

As for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, it's about time we started seeing more advanced camera features. Variable zoom has been rumored for at least a couple of years, and the rumored loss of the secondary telephoto lens feels like the perfect time to offer that. Likewise, now that the iPhone 18 Pro has a variable aperture lens, it's time Samsung brought that particular feature back to its own phones.

Faster charging

Samsung has not been the best at improving charging speed, though it earned some goodwill by upping the Galaxy S26 Ultra's charging speed from 45W to 60W. But sadly the S26 and S26 Plus were left at their old speeds of 25W and 45W, respectively. It's high time that changed.

There's little reason to keep both phones charging so slowly, especially since the Plus and Ultra models shared the same 45W charging speeds for a few years. It's also worth pointing out that the S26 Ultra can wirelessly charge at 25W speeds, which means the standard model really should be running faster by now.

Hopefully the Galaxy S27 series will fix that particular issue, even if the Ultra model sticks at 60W for a little while longer.

An S27 Pro that doesn't feel redundant

I have my concerns about the prospect of a Galaxy S27 Pro, because I'm not entirely sure there's room for another Galaxy flagship to sit between the S27 Plus and S27 Ultra. Certainly not if the other three devices in the lineup are sticking around in their current forms.

What I hope is that Samsung can find some kind of niche for the S27 Pro to ensure that it's not a complete waste of time and money. Ideally without compromising features on the S27 Plus or hiking up the price of the S27 Ultra to ridiculous levels.

The Pro needs to balance the line between features and price, while justifying its own existence. Otherwise, Samsung is just going to end up cannibalizing its own customer base and making the whole endeavor pointless.

No more price hikes

Samsung has been an absolute demon for price hikes this year. Not only were multiple S26 models more expensive than their S25 counterparts, it also increased the price of the entire line-up back in September. To the point where the Galaxy S26 Ultra now costs $1,400. Officially, anyway, since the S26 series has been on sale almost everyday since.

Prices are high due to the skyrocketing cost of RAM and storage, and that means everyone has been hiking up the cost of their devices. With that in mind it would be really nice if Samsung didn't do that with the S27 series. Even if it's just a temporary reprieve, the last thing we need is phones getting even more expensive.

More from Tom's Guide

• We've tested the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Max — here's the phone you should actually buy
• iPhone Duo 2 is inevitable — and these are the 7 things we want to see
• iPhone Duo has been hard to get because Apple did almost everything wrong — here's what we know

Late last week, a report popped up about a new Android phone exploit the security researcher dubbed "SMS of Death." Per the report, the attack, tracked as "CVE-2026-58882," lets malicious actors disrupt cellphone service or crash Android phones by overloading them with a repeating crafted SMS text message.

The denial-of-service flaw can even interrupt ongoing calls, including emergency calls, without requiring you to open the message. Apparently, the Android operating system processes the message before it even reaches your text message inbox, meaning you wouldn't immediately understand what caused the phone to crash.

Researcher Mark Blah says that even if you reboot your phone, the hacked message "stays queued and is retried on every boot, so the phone can crash on startup until it is cleared (recovery below)."

Upon finding Blah's report, Tom's Guide reached out to Google because the report claimed that Google had deemed it a "non-priority." Google has not yet responded to our inquiries.

However, some Android phones may already have the exploit patched.

October patch

Blah's report found that the exploit affects Android versions 12 up to 16 and was discovered on multiple devices, including Pixel 9s and Samsung Galaxy phones.

It appears Google patched the exploit in the October 2026 Android security update (if you haven't updated your Android phone, you should). However, that's only for Android versions 14 through 17. It does not appear to be available for any devices still running Android 12 or 13.

Per Blah, the flaw uses an improper validation of a header length in the Android WapPushOverSms.decodeWapPdu function. Attacks send a malformed WAP Push message to the targeted phone.

When this message is translated, it turns into a negative value that Android attempts to allocate memory for, which triggers a NegativeArraySizeException that crashes the com.android.phone process.

That process manages cellular functions, which disrupts connectivity and disconnects calls. This causes repeated crashes because the network tries to redeliver the malicious messages, which stack up and force Android to process each one. It only takes 20 bad messages to cause the crash.

Per the Google fix, the crash is prevented by catching the exceptions triggered by the attack messages. Then the patch deletes the messages from the SMS database to prevent them from looping.

What you need to do

Android security updates are generally automatically installed on supported devices. So you should already have them.

However, availability does depend on the phone maker and network carrier. So you should check your phone to see if the October patch has been applied. A restart may be required to complete the installation.

For the most part, this isn't an attack you can do anything about, but based on the patch notes and Blah's report, it doesn't seem to be widely deployed; instead, it appears to target individual phones. Since a working proof-of-concept of the exploit has been released, the best thing you can do is make sure you keep your phone up to date.

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It's no secret that the iPhone Duo has been pretty hard to get hold of, despite the fact prices start at $2,000. The consensus has been that limited supply is the main factor, but Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has revealed a few more factors that could explain why you're having to wait so long for your own iPhone Duo.

One of the biggest factors is that, according to Gurman, Apple actually rushed the iPhone Duo to market. He claims Apple originally intended to wait until November to launch, and even then the foldable would initially only be released in the U.S. and China. Other regions would have to wait until later this year, or more likely into 2027.

In other words, Apple wasn't really prepared to meet the demand, which explains why the company admitted it was "nothing short of extraordinary" to see so many people try to get hold of one.

On top of that, Apple apparently decided that it was going to prioritize brick-and-mortar Apple Stores over the online purchasing experience. This means roughly 80% of Apple's supply of iPhone Duos were set aside for walk-in purchases over that first weekend of sales. This explains why launch-day deliveries and pickups all sold out within minutes of iPhone Duo pre-orders going live.

Apparently stores only had 50 to 250 units each, depending on their size and location. Gurman also notes high storage options and blue units were in particularly short supply — and you'd likely need to camp out to get your hands on one.

Plus, as is the case with any high-profile product launch, scalpers have been using bots to monitor the Apple website and buy up as much stock as they can. That includes reserving any units that do become available for in-store pickup.

Considering scalpers have become a plague over the past several years, Apple should have seen that coming. It's possible that the emphasis on in-store sales was an attempt to try and curb the use of bots and prevent the minority of would-be scalpers from stockpiling Duo units.

But that obviously doesn't work if a) Apple doesn't tell anyone what's going on and b) scalpers are still able to reserve devices for in-store pickup en masse. The lack of transparency is definitely exacerbating the problems of getting hold of an iPhone Duo.

If you're looking to get an iPhone Duo, your only real option is to be patient and wait for Apple, carriers and major retailers to get one to you. It's possible that you may be able to snatch one up for in-store pickup if you're vigilant (and fast), but when you're competing with bots that task becomes significantly harder.

Obviously the last thing you want to do is buy a scalper unit for an inflated price. Not only are you wasting your money, you're encouraging this kind of behavior — and the more scalpers are emboldened, the more they'll do. Stuff costs enough right now without scalpers inserting themselves as middle men.

More from Tom's Guide

• We've tested the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Max — here's the phone you should actually buy
• iPhone Duo 2 is inevitable — and these are the 7 things we want to see
• I swapped my iPhone 17 Pro Max for the iPhone Duo for 2 weeks: The good, the bad and the baffling

It’s one thing to test out a phone for a review, but it’s another to ditch your everyday phone for a foldable — especially one that still feels unfinished in some ways. Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone Duo at times feels magical, especially when I used it to binge watch Netflix on its massive screen during a flight and when regularly multitasking with two apps side by side (finally).

But during my two-week experiment of swapping out my iPhone 17 Pro Max for the iPhone Duo I did question whether I would upgrade to this device and spend $2,000 for it. Here’s what I really like about Apple’s first foldable so far, what needs work, and what it’s really like to live with it as your daily driver.

The Good

I’m using the multiple modes often, including tent and tabletop

Apple has done an awesome job making the iPhone Duo as versatile as possible with its design. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the hinge holds various angles well and the software morphs as you bend the device.

While on a recent business trip, I used the tent position to turn the Duo into my alarm clock in Standby mode. I also like to use the tabletop mode for FaceTime calls, as I usually like to pace around the room while I talk. My family likes to say I have “ants in my pants” so this helps!

The main 7.6-inch display is awesome for watching content (especially on a plane)

I just traveled back from Los Angeles for the Apple “Pro and Tell” event, and the in-flight internet was so slow I just gave up on doing work. (Come on, Starlink!)

So instead I sat back, relaxed and caught up on ‘The Diplomat.’ It was awesome having a 7.6-inch screen at my disposal to watch the intrigue unfold. And I got really sucked into the action during a particularly perilous episode, with rich colors and lots of detail.

Another plus is the YouTube TV app. I love being able to watch four channels at once in a grid view, just as you can with Android foldables.

Split View multitasking saves me time

Yes, it’s long overdue, but I really appreciate being able to run apps side by side. For example, I get emails all the time about upcoming meetings and appointments, and I like being able to pull up Gmail in one window next to Google Calendar in another. It just makes my day easier.

I also upload images all the time to our dedicated photo room in Slack, and it’s great that I can just drag and drop images from the Photos app into this chat. Plus, you can just tap the middle of this split view to save the app pair.

It’s almost too good for TikTok and Instagram

If you’re addicted to doom scrolling, you might not want to get the iPhone Duo… It’s that addictive. Videos look pretty good on the cover screen, but on the big screen they’re way more immersive in portrait mode. And it’s especially cool that you can see the comments on the right when in landscape mode and they stay up as you keep scrolling.

The cameras are great (if you can live without zoom)

I’ve been generally impressed with the iPhone Duo’s cameras, despite the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens. For example, the Duo took a gorgeous shot of the Los Angeles skyline just after sunset with deep blue, orange, yellow and red all coming through.

The iPhone Duo also did a great job of taking this shot of pumpkins in a large cornucopia, bringing out a surprising amount of detail in the shadows.

The Bad

It feels heavy in my front pocket

One of the benefits of the iPhone Duo is that it’s compact enough when closed that you can slip it into your front pocket. And it fits just fine. But I noticed while walking around that it weighed down that pocket.

The actual weight difference isn’t huge at 8.96 ounces (254 grams) for the iPhone Duo versus 8.22 ounces (233 grams) for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it’s enough to be noticeable and a bit annoying. I had to tighten my belt an extra notch so my pants wouldn’t fall down, and in many cases I wound up putting the Duo in my back pocket instead.

Turning the phone breaks the multitasking view

I give Apple some credit for making Split View multitasking on the iPhone Duo so intuitive. You just swipe up on an app and park it on the left or right side, then add another app.

However, the moment you flip from landscape to portrait view the app pair goes away. This is not the case on Samsung’s Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. The only multitasking you can do in portrait mode is putting a video window on top of another open app.

Taking photos feels awkward on the big screen

I really loved reviewing and showing off photos I took on the iPhone Duo on its big display, but taking photos feels awkward. And it’s not just because the display is so large. I actually would like a large viewfinder at times.

The problem is that the Duo takes portrait photos in landscape mode and landscape mode pics in portrait mode, which is counterintuitive. You get used to it but it’s disorientating at first.

The volume buttons are in the wrong place

If I was designing the iPhone Duo 2, the first thing I would do is move the volume buttons. They’re on the top of the phone, which I find awkward to use. It’s not too bad with the phone closed but it’s of a stretch with the main display open. Personally, I would rather lose the Camera Control button or put that up top instead.

The Baffling

Too many apps are not optimized yet

While many developers have been updating their apps for the iPhone Duo at a fairly fast clip, I’m bewildered that so many apps are not optimized at all.

For example, Google Calendar is a downright disaster on the iPhone Duo. There are huge black bars on the left and right side. The same thing goes for Google Drive. Google has optimized other apps. For example, YouTube and YouTube TV show the whole screen.

But even Gmail is half-assed on the Duo. It fills the display but you don’t get a two-column layout like you do on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. LinkedIn is another example. You would think they would have updated their app by now.

The right-hand menus just waste real estate

I can see why Apple chose to move the dock to the right side and menus and controls for apps. With such a wide front display, it would be tricky to reach across to the bottom left, for example. But that doesn’t mean this UI change is a success.

When you have just 5.4 inches to play with, taking up that much room in every app seems like a waste. Check out Instagram, for example, which has been fully optimized on the iPhone Duo. The right-hand strip means there’s less room for watching videos compared to the Fold 8.

The situation is even worse with apps that have a black bar on the right side, such as TikTok. And then you have apps whose right-hand menu covers the content as you scroll. Maybe Apple should just move all the controls to the bottom and allow developers to hide them, revealing them with a swipe or tap?

Bottom Line

After giving up my iPhone 17 Pro Max for the iPhone Duo for two weeks, I feel like Apple has delivered a foldable phone that is (mostly) well designed. I really like having a huge display on the go that folds up into a more compact design. It’s like having an iPad Mini in your pocket, even if it weighs me down a little.

I also like the quality cameras, split-view multitasking, and consuming vertical video. However, I’m pretty shocked that very high profile developers have not fully updated their apps yet, which can make the Duo feel unfinished. And I don’t agree with some of Apple’s own design and UI decisions.

Do I think you should wait for an iPhone Duo 2? Not necessarily. I think the iPhone Duo is compelling, but I might wait for Apple and its partners to work out some of the early kinks before forking over two grand.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Duo 2 is inevitable — and these are the 7 things we want to see
• iPad mini 8 hands-on: I like it even more than iPhone Duo
• I’ve tested the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Razr Fold — here’s the foldable phone I recommend

It's been a big year for the iPhone, thanks to the launch of the all-new iPhone Duo. It's Apple's first foldable, and arguably the most exciting new iPhone for the past several years. By comparison the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the best traditional iPhone to date. But which one is the better iPhone?

The iPhone Duo has a lot going for it, including the large foldable display, but it makes some compromises that we'd really like to see fixed. Meanwhile the iPhone 18 Pro Max has improved just about every aspect of what makes an iPhone an iPhone — but at the expense of its "wow" factor. Thankfully we have put both phones through the ringer in the Tom's Guide labs, testing everything that makes them tick.

Here's what we learned about iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max, and which of the two is actually the best iPhone.

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Specs

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Price & availability

The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,299, which gets you a model with 256GB of storage space. Additional storage is available for an extra fee, with 512GB costing $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,699, 1TB costing $1,899 / £1,899 / $3,499 and 2TB setting you back $2,499 / £2,499 / $4,699. The Pro Max has been on sale for several weeks, and currently has delivery wait times of two to three weeks.

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,499 for a model with 256GB of storage. Higher storage options include 512GB at $2,199 / £2,199 / AU$3,899, 1TB at $2,599 / £2,599 / AU$4,699 and 2TB at $3,199 / £3,199 / AU$5,899.

The iPhone Duo is technically on sale, but online retailers and carriers have delivery wait times pushing back towards the end of the year — and into 2027. It's possible some brick & mortar locations may have physical stock, but you'll need to check your local establishments to find out for sure.

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Design & Display

The most obvious difference between the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo is the overall shape and look of the devices. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a traditional looking iPhone with the same 6.9-inch display as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. This screen is covered in Ceramic Shield 2 glass, and has an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare.

Meanwhile the iPhone Duo has a foldable design, with a wider 5.4-inch display, and a larger 7.6-inch display that unfolds as you open the phone. This larger screen has a similar aspect ratio to the 4:3 design utilized in Apple's iPads.

The outer display has the same Ceramic Shield 2 glass and anti-reflective coating. The inner display has a nano-texture matte display that minimizes glare, but also mutes some of the colors in a way a lot of people aren't used to.

According to our testing the iPhone Duo is slightly brighter, with a maximum brightness of 2,558 nits. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is slightly dimmer with a maximum brightness of 2,326 nits.

The iPhone Duo's folding nature means it is both thinner and thicker than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. When folded the phone has a thickness of 11.3mm / 0.44 inches, which is reduced to 5.2 mm / 0.20 inches when unfolded. The iPhone Duo, by contrast, is 8.8mm / 0.35 inches thick.

The Pro Max is slightly lighter, with an overall weight of 249 grams / 8.78 ounces compared to the iPhone Duo's 154 grams / 8.96 ounces. That makes the Duo the heaviest iPhone has ever made.

Both phones have IP68 water and dust resistance, and can handle being submerged in up to six meters of water for up to 30 minutes. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is an eSIM-only model in North America, but physical SIM cards are available in other regions. The Duo is only available with eSIM, regardless of where you buy one.

One advantage the iPhone 18 Pro Max has is the inclusion of Face ID, though this does mean you lose a little bit of screen space to the Dynamic Island cutout. The iPhone Duo has a hole-punch camera on the outer display and a hidden under-display camera on the inner display.

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Cameras

The other crucial difference between the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Duo is the fact the Duo only has two cameras. Both phones feature 48MP main and ultrawide-angle lenses, though only the Pro Max model features the 48MP telephoto lens (with 4x optical zoom).

It's also worth pointing out that, despite the similar resolution, the two have different camera lenses and hardware specs. This includes the lack of variable aperture which, at the moment, is exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

But hardware is one thing, how do these cameras actually compare? We put both through a 10-round camera face-off to find out — and here's a quick rundown.

In terms of the main camera, there isn't a whole lot of difference, The two phones manage to capture pretty similar photos, with the same lighting and colors in most places. However the iPhone 18 Pro Max has stronger contrast and captures shadowy areas a little better.

The same is true of the ultrawide cameras. Unless you're looking extremely closely, more than the casual observer ever will, there's nothing to really differentiate the shots from both phones.

Again, selfies aren't that dissimilar, even though the Duo has a lower resolution 12MP camera — compared to the Pro Max's 18MP Center Stage lens. Both manage to capture a realistic image, and pick up the finer details pretty well.

At 2x magnification the loss of the telephoto lens doesn't make a huge difference to the quality of the iPhone Duo's zoomed-in photos. No doubt thanks to Apple's 2x "optical quality" feature, which simply crops down a higher resolution image to simulate magnification.

Increase the magnification to 10x and you can see a much bigger difference. The iPhone 18 Pro Max performs so well that you wouldn't really suspect that this has been zoomed in quite so far. However, the iPhone Duo produces a shot that is blurry, pixelated, and missing many of the finer details that the Pro Max's camera had no issues with.

We're back to even footing with the low-light shots, and despite the Pro Max having a slightly wider aperture, the photos from both phones came out pretty well. Both cameras preserved the details, and lit up the display with minimal noise and loss of quality.

Overall, the cameras on iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo are fairly evenly matched in every way except for zoomed-in shots. All the digital tricks in the world can't seem to make up for the fact that the telephoto lens is missing on the Duo. So, if you can't live without taking higher-quality zoomed-in shots, then the Duo is not for you.

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Performance

There's very little difference in performance power, on account of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo sharing the same A20 Pro chipset. However, in terms of raw benchmarking scores, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a slight advantage in all three major categories: computing, graphics and AI.

As you can see the iPhone 18 Pro Max managed a single-core score of 4,025 in the Geekbench 7 test, compared to the iPhone Duo's 4,007. That's not a huge difference, though the gap grows a little larger when you look at the multi-core results: The iPhone 18 Pro Max scored 11,525 while the Duo came in with 11,363.

3DMark's Solar Bay Unlimited graphics test saw the 18 Pro Max record a score of 17,850 and an average frame rate of 67.9fps. Meanwhile the Duo was quite a bit lower with a score of 16,496 and an average frame rate of 62.3 fps. AI processing also had a rather large gap, with the 18 Pro Max scoring 71,974 in the Geekbench AI 1.7 benchmark. The Duo recorded a score of 69,438.

It's worth mentioning that the iPhone Duo actually scored better than the smaller iPhone 18 Pro in the graphics and AI testing. This is worth bearing in mind if you want maximum performance, but were worried the Pro Max might be a little too big for your tastes.

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Software & AI

Both iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo run iOS 27, and have the same basic selection of software and AI features. The main feature of this is Siri AI, which is the upgraded assistant capable of more AI-heavy tasks than the Siri of old. This includes better understanding of your requests, and the ability to understand personal context that helps you specifically.

iOS 27 also includes features like expressive voices for Siri, the adjustable Liquid Glass interface, Siri Mode on the camera, smart tab optimization in Safari, alongside AI powered editing features like Reframe, Extend and CleanUp. In other words, if the iPhone 18 Pro Max can do it, so can the iPhone Duo.

The real difference in software is that the Duo has a new UI, designed to take advantage of the new screen sizes. This includes the ability to multitask with split-view apps, the first and only iPhone to do so, while also offering a taskbar on the right side of the screen. However a lot of work still needs doing to optimize the apps for those screens, which is not something Pro Max owners have to know about.

The iPhone Duo also features some exclusive features, including the Smart Take camera mode that follows a single subject with the aid of AI. The recent iOS 27.2 update added stylus support from the Apple Pencil USB-C, which is another thing that isn't possible on any other iPhones.

Still, for the most part, the software experience is similar enough that it doesn't make that much difference. Certainly not when it comes to deciding between those two price tags.

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Battery

It's unsurprising that the iPhone Duo does not have as strong a battery life as the iPhone 18 Pro Max. For starters the battery is much smaller, with 4,883 mAh to the Pro Max's 5,567 mAh. The foldable also has to contend with the fact that it has a much larger screen to power, which is going to drain the battery much faster when in use.

Our battery life testing found that the iPhone Duo lasted 13 hours and 20 minutes, which is over four hours less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max's 17 hours and 31 minutes.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max also managed to recharge slightly faster, despite the fact both phones support up to 60W charging speeds. The Pro Max regained 44% of its battery in the first 15 minutes, which rose to 77% after half an hour. The Duo, on the other hand, reached 42% after 15 minutes and 66% after 30 minutes — despite the fact it has a smaller battery.

In other words, if you value battery life above all else, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the phone to go for. It has the larger, longer lasting battery, and manages to restore any lost charge much faster than its folding sibling.

iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Which should you buy?

Overall, there isn't a whole lot of difference between the iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. It's true, the design of the two phones couldn't be more different, and the experience of using a foldable is completely different to that of a traditional phone. That said, from a user perspective, you're getting a lot of the same qualities and results from both phones.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max does have better battery life and the all-important telephoto lens. Combined with the noticeably lower price tag, that's enough to sway people in that particular direction. More so when you remember that they're a lot easier to get hold of at the moment.

The iPhone Duo has the benefit of being something new and exciting, alongside the fact the larger screen offers a lot more utility. It's a device that offers the same productivity benefits as a tablet, with stylus support and split-view apps. But the downside is that you have to pay a premium and make some sacrifices in the process — particularly the long wait to get your hands on one.

More from Tom's Guide

• Now is the perfect time for Samsung to release a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 9 FE — and it's all because of iPhone Duo
• 24 hours with the iPhone Duo — here are my 5 immediate takeaways
• I’ve tested the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Razr Fold — here’s the foldable phone I recommend

Everyone knows I refuse to pay more than $30 per month for cellular service. After years of enjoying the savings I’ve gotten with Visible, I only recently discovered that even cheaper cell phone plans exist.

While Visible still offers one of the best cheap cell phone plans around, other MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) options cost significantly less. In fact, I tested out Red Pocket Mobile’s $10/month Essentials plan for an entire month and came away pleasantly surprised with the service.

Red Pocket isn't the only player in this bracket, either. In fact, there's a handful of other wireless providers offer competing $10/month cell service — so I’m breaking down the best options to show you exactly what they offer and where the compromises lie.

$10 per month cell phone plan comparison

Red Pocket Mobile

• Biggest advantage: Locked-in monthly pricing with no contract commitment.
• Biggest disadvantage: Aggressive speed throttling once your 3GB data pool is exhausted.

Having tested Red Pocket Mobile’s $10/month Essential plan for a full 30 days, I can say it delivers exceptional value. Unlike several budget competitors, this rate isn’t a temporary promotional teaser and doesn't require an upfront annual commitment — you can sign up anytime and cancel whenever you want.

For $10, 3GB of high-speed data per cycle is a solid allotment, but you have to monitor your usage closely. Transitioning from an unlimited plan on Visible, I was surprised by how quickly I burned through nearly 3GB in just the first two weeks. Keeping costs this low requires staying on Wi-Fi whenever possible and holding off on data-heavy tasks when relying on cellular connectivity.

Download and upload speeds were modest and naturally trailed what I typically see on Visible. Even so, the connection proved more than adequate for doom-scrolling Instagram or watching TikTok clips without the irritating buffering that annoys me.

Boost Mobile

• Biggest advantage: Generous 30GB of premium data each month.
• Biggest disadvantage: Promotional rate expires after 6 months, jumping to $25/month.

When I tested Boost Mobile for 30 days last year, its standard $25 per month rate was already a smidge less than what I was paying for Visible. Right now, however, the carrier is running a promotion that slashes that plan down to just $10 per month for your first six months before reverting to the usual $25 rate.

On paper, Boost Mobile’s $10/month plan offers the absolute most value in this class, largely because it packs a generous 30GB allotment of premium data alongside full mobile hotspot support. Compared to the 2GB or 3GB limits common I see in this price tier, 30GB gives you plenty of breathing room without forcing you to strictly monitor your cellular data usage.

If you do stick around after six months at the $25/month price point, Boost's price lock guarantee at least ensures your bill won't creep up down the road.

Tello Mobile

• Biggest advantage: Free calling to 60+ countries and included mobile hotspot.
• Biggest disadvantage: Modest 2GB high-speed data allotment.

If you want a dependable $10 plan without temporary promotional gimmicks or upfront annual payments, Tello Mobile’s 2GB custom plan is one of the most straightforward options available. While Tello does offer a promotion that nets you 10GB for $10/month, that introductory rate only lasts for three months before bumping up to $15/month.

Tello runs on T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G/4G LTE network and packages unlimited talk, unlimited text, mobile hotspot support, and free calling to over 60 international destinations. The hotspot inclusion is particularly valuable because, unlike Red Pocket's $10 Essential plan, Tello lets you tap into your data pool to tether a laptop or tablet on the go.

The obvious trade-off is the strict 2GB data cap. If you thought living with 3GB was tough, 2GB gives you even less breathing room. To make this tier work, you'll definitely want to turn on your phone's built-in data saver mode to curb background consumption and set usage alerts so you don't run out mid-cycle.

Ultra Mobile

• Biggest advantage: Generous baseline perks including mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi calling, and talk and text to Mexico and Canada.
• Biggest disadvantage: Requires an upfront payment of at least $30 to cover three months of service.

If you regularly stay in touch with friends or family overseas, Ultra Mobile easily leads the pack when it comes to international value. Running on T-Mobile’s network, the carrier offers a 4GB plan for an effective 10/month — but you need to pay for at least three months of service upfront($30 total) to get that rate.

What’s particularly impressive about Ultra Mobile’s $10/month 4GB tier is that it includes unlimited nationwide talk, global text, mobile hotspot capability, Wi-Fi calling, and free international calling to over 90 destinations. Those are premium extras you rarely see on a plan this cheap, and you can activate via physical SIM or digital eSIM at no extra charge.

If you don’t mind paying upfront in multi-month chunks to lock in a solid 4GB data bucket, Ultra Mobile pairs reliable nationwide coverage with global calling perks no other carrier in this price bracket can touch.

The market is full of MagSafe accessories for the latest phones, but I always went without one. Many of these felt the same to me and never really fit what I needed for the back of my phone. My colleague, though, recently let me try out three of Spigen’s MagFit wallets.

After putting them each through my life the last few days, I found that these were what I needed all along. From the TinTap MagFit+ wallet, to the weirdly unique zippered Tintap Zip V2, and the heavy duty Tough Armor Pro, I quickly found out that each of these accessories had a legit purpose for my life.

In fact, one of them was so good, it solved an issue I had with my iPhone 17 — and became my new daily MagSafe accessory. Here’s how all three of these accessories held up in my testing.

Spigen TinTap MagFit+

The Spigen MagSafe Card Holder Tintap (Mag Fit+) was a genuinely handy accessory. For someone like me who is hesitant about MagSafe wallets because I carry a lot of cash alongside cards, the quick-release mechanism and side lock changed my mind real fast. It made accessing the cash and the five cards I kept in my wallet effortless.

Unlike other MagSafe wallets, there was no more awkwardly pushing cards out to access them and there's a cash out from the bottom or side when I needed it. I also love that it features a MagSafe ring on the front, meaning I can still use a MagSafe stand seamlessly. My only minor critique is that it feels a bit bulky and protrudes from the back a little too much.

Spigen Tintap Zip Mag Fit 2

I’ve never seen a MagSafe accessory like the Spigen Tintap Zip Mag Fit 2. It's essentially a mini zippered pouch or purse on the back of your phone!

It proved incredibly handy for storing loose change. I tested it out running Sunday errands, and it was a game-changer for feeding parking meters and grabbing coins for shopping carts without having to dig through my pockets.

I even managed to fit my keys in the pouch! While it can feel a little bulky and awkward for everyday phone use, it definitely earns major points for creativity and utility. I didn’t choose to keep this one for long term use on my phone, but I ended up using this as a handy coin pouch for my car.

Spigen MagSafe Tough Armor Pro

This Spigen MagSafe Tough Armor Pro is hands-down my favorite of the bunch. Since I recently upgraded, my new iPhone 17 feels a bit light compared to my older iPhone 15 Pro Max. Snapping this onto the back adds a satisfying heft that makes the phone feel much better in my hand.

The built-in kickstand is a fantastic touch, and folding it down actually makes it easier to use the phone like a gimbal handle. Between the convenience, sleek design, and added weight, this quickly became my everyday daily driver.

Bottom Line

Spigen really thinks outside the box with this lineup of accessories. The TinTap and Tintap Zip Mag Fit 2 show just how versatile magnetic attachments can be when designed for specific, real-world problems, with the caveat that their bulk keeps them from being true everyday carry items for everyone.

The real winner for me, though, is the MagSafe Tough Armor Pro. By combining a tough profile, a multi-angle kickstand and a gimbal-like grip, this accessory adds just enough weight to give my lighter iPhone 17 a more premium feel. It's the one that earned a permanent spot on the back of my device. If you're looking for an accessory that genuinely upgrades your phone’s daily usability without compromise, it might be for you, too!

More from Tom's Guide

• 24 hours with the iPhone Duo — here are my 5 immediate takeaways
• I’ve tested the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Razr Fold — here’s the foldable phone I recommend
• Is your iPhone listening to you? The 'live listen' setting you should check right now

After years of waiting the iPhone Duo has finally arrived, and as positive as reception has been to Apple's first foldable, it is far from a perfect phone. The Duo is definitely an excellent first attempt, but there are some things about the phone we would change.

While there isn't much Apple can do about that now, it does mean there are plenty of opportunities to upgrade the inevitable iPhone Duo 2. We know it's coming at some point, and the insane demand for the foldable means Apple is going to want the sequel to be ready as soon as possible.

With that in mind, here are seven things we want Apple to do with the iPhone Duo 2.

Add Face ID

One of the things people are most annoyed about was that the iPhone Duo was missing Face ID. It's been a staple part of Apple flagships for almost a decade, and the idea that it was missing directly conflicted with Apple's long-standing claims that Face ID was a much more secure system than Touch ID.

It's unclear why the foldable is missing Face ID, but the good news is that the follow-up should come with Apple's trademark facial recognition system. According to Mark Gurman, Apple has already started testing a version of the Duo that features Face ID support, and that it should be part of an under display camera. It's unclear if that means the cover display camera will also be under-display, or if we'll only see hidden Face ID.

Give us a telephoto lens

Apple makes some of the best camera phones, and offers what it calls "optical quality" zoom on the Duo's main camera, but that doesn't make up for a dedicated telephoto lens. We checked, and compared to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the quality of magnified photos is so much worse on the iPhone Duo.

It is possible to have a telephoto lens on a wide foldable, even if Apple and Samsung have decided to go without. Xiaomi's 18 Fold has a triple-lens camera, complete with a 50MP telephoto lens capable of 3x optical magnification. If Xiaomi can do it, so can Apple, and it would help elevate the iPhone Duo 2's camera capabilities far beyond what's currently on offer.

More optimized apps

One of the main problems with the iPhone Duo is that the app optimization is pretty terrible. This isn't exactly Apple's fault, and it mainly stems from the fact developers have been spoiled by set display sizes and aspect ratios for many years — meaning the uniquely-shaped and transformable iPhone Duo is automatically at a disadvantage.

There are a lot of optimized apps on offer, but there are still plenty more that aren't, and that needs to change and fast. Because a lack of optimized apps will make some users wonder why they bothered to spend $2,000 on a foldable when you can't make full use of the screen.

So Apple needs to push those developers to better optimize well ahead of the iPhone Duo 2 launch. Because what good is having a walled garden if you can't push developers to support all your devices?

Better display colors

While many people may be critical of the fact the iPhone Duo is only available in Black or White, there's a bigger coloring issue that needs to be fixed for the Duo 2. I'm talking about the picture quality on the foldable screen which, thanks to the nano-texture display, has much more muted colors than most people would expect (or like).

While this issue seems to stem from the light-diffusing nano-texture layer, it's something Apple really needs to sort out going forward. Displays are one of the most important parts of a foldable phone, and offering such an expensive device with even slightly muted colors on the big display is not a good look.

A less weighty design

The iPhone Duo is a heavy thing, and at 8.96 ounces it's actually the heaviest iPhone Apple has ever made. In direct contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which is a larger device, is 7.58 ounces, while the passport-shaped Z Fold 8 is just 7.09 ounces. Considering Apple is a company that prides itself on a sleek aesthetic, that is going to have to change.

Considering a foldable is effectively two phones glued together, and has a ring of MagSafe magnets in the back there are limits to how much weight a foldable can shed. Then again the Pixel 11 Pro Fold lost nearly an ounce compared to its predecessors, so it can be done — and without removing the magnetic connection iPhones are known for.

At the very least the loss of some extra weight will make the phone a little more comfortable to use. Even if Apple only manages to shed a fraction of an ounce with the Duo 2.

Better multitasking

One of my biggest questions about the iPhone Duo is why multitasking is so bad. Not just compared to other foldables, but also compared to Apple's iPads — which offer split-view of up to three app windows at a time. The iPhone Duo only offers two apps in landscape mode, and trying to get it working in Portrait mode is not easy. Needless to say this needs fixing.

Having the ability to unfold your device and access a larger screen means it's very useful as a dual-purpose casual and productivity device. The problem is that productivity often hinges on how easy it is to access different app windows on a single screen, and a two-app split-view just doesn't cut it — especially when it only works properly in a single screen-orientation.

So if Apple wants to ensure that users can make the most of that large screen, and be productive if they wish, the iPhone Duo 2 is going to need to step up the multitasking experience in a big way.

Desktop mode

Likewise, it's about time Apple implemented a proper desktop mode experience on all iPhones — especially iPhone Duo. Currently iOS is limited to screen mirroring, which is in contrast to the optimized big-screen experience afforded by Samsung DeX and Google's Android OS

Working on a tablet screen on the move is fine, but it doesn't really work so well if you're sitting at a desk trying to maximize your workflow. A larger desktop screen, complete with a keyboard and mouse, would make that a lot easier. It's fairly niche, especially since Apple would rather you just buy some kind of Mac, but there can be situations where using your own computer isn't possible — meaning a desktop-capable smartphone is the next best thing.

Even the heaviest iPhone Apple has ever made is more portable than a laptop (or an iPad), and adding a desktop mode could make it even more versatile than before. For casual work, at least. An iPhone Duo won't be replacing a Mac Studio or even a MacBook Pro anytime soon.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve tested the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Razr Fold — here’s the foldable phone I recommend
• 24 hours with the iPhone Duo — here are my 5 immediate takeaways
• Is your iPhone listening to you? The 'live listen' setting you should check right now

Foldables have been around for several years, but the recent launch of the iPhone Duo means the foldable market could be on the verge of changing in a big way. To the point where Samsung is reportedly looking to mix things up, and offer an even more diverse range of foldable-centric devices than it already does.

The latest rumor claims that Samsung is currently working on a companion for the Galaxy Z Fold 9, sharing the same wider passport-shape of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. According to a leak on Korean network Naver, Samsung is testing two possible options, including a Galaxy Z Fold 9 Plus and a lower-priced Galaxy Z Fold 9 FE.

I've already expressed some confusion as to how a Z Fold 9 Plus would sit between the Fold 9 and Fold 9 Ultra. But an FE-branded model? That's actually a very good idea, especially in the current climate. Just as long as Samsung doesn't mess things up, like it did with last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.

Prices are too high right now

It's no secret that the cost of smartphones is rising, and Samsung has been one of the worst offenders when it comes to price hikes. The Galaxy S26 series was already subjected to some price hikes at launch, depending on which version you bought, only for Samsung to raise prices again at the start of October. The Z Fold 8 Ultra was also noticeably more expensive than the Z Fold 7, which was in turn more expensive than the Z Fold 6.

The reason for these price hikes are obvious. The cost of phone manufacturing has been rising for a number of years, and the last 12 months have seen an explosion in the cost of RAM and storage — all thanks to the current AI boom we've been experiencing.

Because of that multiple electronics companies have been forced to increase prices across the board including Samsung, Apple and Google.

The key problem with foldable adoption has been that they're so darn expensive, especially if you don't have easy access to Chinese brands that (usually) charge less than their international counterparts. So if you think about it, the seemingly never-ending price hikes means that now is the perfect time to start releasing lower-cost foldables.

The iPhone Duo has raised a lot more awareness about foldables, and could mean higher foldable adoption rates across the board. All foldable phone makers need to do is make sure their devices are accessible, and offering something with a lower price tag is one way to do that — even if it does come with some compromises.

Plus, the cost of everything is going up, and there's less money to spend on luxury purchases like new smartphones. Especially ones that cost close to $2,000.

Fighting increased competition

While the launch of the iPhone Duo will help raise awareness of foldable phones, it also means that Galaxy foldables have some serious competition — possibly for the first time ever.

Apple is a popular brand, and that's reflected in the fact iPhone sales outpace any other individual phone brand. Even Samsung, easily the most popular Android brand, trailed behind Apple in global market share last year.

There are plenty of people out in the world who will only ever buy an iPhone, and will never even consider the possibility of switching to a rival brand — regardless of what might be on offer. But that doesn't mean convincing people to make the switch is impossible, and this means Samsung needs something that will help fight the increased competition from Apple and convince people that a Galaxy foldable is a much better option than an iPhone Duo.

Considering the Duo starts at $2,000, second only in price to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, the obvious solution is to start offering something even cheaper. To hook into those people who saw the iPhone Duo, but were unwilling to pay quite so much money to experience what foldable phones have to offer.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is already slightly cheaper than the Duo, especially when you can grab one on sale. But finally releasing a Fan Edition foldable at an even lower price point should help steal interest away from Apple and other foldable rivals.

There could be a gap in the line-up

One of the earliest rumors about the Galaxy Z 9 lineup was that Samsung may be planning on scrapping the Galaxy Z Flip 9. At least one recent rumor has refuted that, but considering its been fairly persistent, there may be some truth to the claims.

Plus, considering Samsung has basically neglected the Z Flip series for the past few generations, and the relative popularity of book-style foldables, it's no surprise that they might turn around and can the whole thing.

If that does end up being the case, then Samsung will have a very large gap in its lineup. Not just because it might be killing off one of its long-term staples, but because the Z flip series has always been more of a lower-cost option for foldable users to consider.

Admittedly, $1,199 is still pretty expensive as far as smartphones go. It's the same price as the Galaxy S26 Plus, and $100 more than the Plus cost when it launched at the start of the year. For your money you get slower charging, worse battery life, lower durability and a bunch of other compromises that are cut in order to pay for the folding screen.

Still, the Z Flip series offered a cheaper alternative to the expensive Z Fold lineup. Without it, the base cost of a Galaxy foldable would shoot up to whatever the Z Fold 9 costs. I would bet money that it'll end up costing at least $1,900, or $100 more than the Z Fold 8.

But if there's a Z Fold 9 FE, then suddenly the cost of entry isn't quite so expensive. I doubt it'll be as cheap as the Z Flip 9 would have cost, but at least it lowers the barrier of entry for more frugally-minded folks.

Samsung just needs to not mess it up

The actual success of a Z Fold 9 FE is all dependent on what Samsung actually does with it, and the kind of sacrifices that have to be made in order to keep the cost low. Last time that happened we ended up with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, which was quite stripped down compared to the Z Flip 7.

Considering the Z Flip 7 wasn't all that impressive either just shows how disappointing the Fan Edition model was. More so when you remember that it started at $899, which was just $200 cheaper than its full edition sibling.

The price of a Z Fold 9 FE needs to reflect the compromises involved, and those compromises need to ensure that the user experience isn't hampered in any meaningful way. This means Samsung actually needs to put thought and care into the design of this hypothetical phone, otherwise we're going to end up with another damp squib that might as well have never been released.

But considering the job it did with the Z Fold 8 and the Fold 8 Ultra, I have better hopes for the possibility of a Z Fold 9 FE being done well. Or, at the very least, done better than the Z Flip 7 FE was. We only have to hope that Samsung doesn't pick the Z Fold 9 Plus instead.

More from Tom's Guide

• 24 hours with the iPhone Duo — here are my 5 immediate takeaways
• I’ve tested the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Razr Fold — here’s the foldable phone I recommend
• Is your iPhone listening to you? The 'live listen' setting you should check right now

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and my first impression with the iPhone Duo happened several weeks ago at a tightly controlled press event at Apple HQ in London. It's fair to say, I was pretty blown away by it. Now though, I’ve spent a full 24 hours with the device in my possession and I’ve come away with a few more follow-up thoughts.

I stand by my initial reaction about this being a game-changer for iPhone owners (and the foldable phone market in general) and, despite that high $2,000 entry price, it’s clear Apple’s first foldable is proving a hit with customers.

But, like my colleague Mark said in his full review, there are some big niggles with this phone that you want to be aware of before parting with your cash. And, in some ways, the delay on fulfilment that’s currently stretching into next year may not be such a bad thing after all.

So after spending a day with the iPhone Duo in the real world, here are my takeaways.

The form factor is a slam dunk

I’m going to level with you; my favorite iPhone of all time is the iPhone 13 mini. For all its battery life faults, I loved the small form factor that meant I could slip it into any pocket and use the device with just one hand.

The iPhone Duo evokes that same sense when folded, and the 5.4-inch outer display is more than capable of doing basic, phone-type stuff on: calling, messaging, checking socials or skimming through pictures. All with one hand. I love it.

You don’t need me to sell the unfolded 7.6-inch nano-texture inner display to you again, but I’m going to nonetheless. I took the Duo to a coffee shop and, when I wanted to spend a bit of time to get started reading a novel, I flipped it open and marveled at the rectangular form factor with the rounded corners.

The 1:4:1 aspect ratio works beautifully for this use case and I much prefer it to the square aspect ratio I’ve experienced on Android foldables.

Like the iPhone Air, this will help grow eSIM adoption

The iPhone Duo is my first experience with an eSIM iPhone as in the U.K., unlike the U.S., all regular iPhones apart from last year’s iPhone Air still ship with a physical SIM slot.

According to some data released late last year, 40% of my fellow Brits haven’t even heard of eSIM and 41% couldn’t say if their phone supported one or not.

Just like with the removal of the headphone jack all those years ago, Apple’s determined push into eSIM-only territory will, in my opinion, help increase adoption. I’ve kept a physical SIM all these years because I’ve never needed to move across. The iPhone Duo is going to change that.

A lot of apps are a total mess and Google needs to hurry up

If you’ve read Mark’s review of the iPhone Duo, you’ll see he marked it down because non-optimized apps look…well, bad. I can certainly attest to this with a number of my go-to apps still displaying the thick black bar on the right hand side. When this happens and you unfold the Duo, it’s like we’re right back in the days of the early iPad and having to simply blow up an app window stuck in iPhone dimensions.

To be fair to Apple, it’s still very much early days. The company has added a “Made for iPhone Duo” badge to compatible apps — we’re cataloging our favorites here — and I expect this to resolve itself over time. I can forgive smaller apps for not yet being optimized but some of the bigger ones, like Wikipedia or literally all of Google’s apps, need to hurry up.

At the moment, it’s a compromised experience that I wouldn’t expect on a $2,000 product and the silver lining of the delay is that most of this should be fixed by the time the Duo is readily available.

Finally, while it's cool to be able to run two apps side-by-side, other Android foldables can manage three. But, y'know, who's counting?

Man, I really miss Face ID

There’s no sugarcoating it; I’ve become used to Face ID and not having it on the Duo is a real bummer. I’ll pause here to say how glad I am the Duo supports MagSafe, but I think a lot of users will resent having to go back to Touch ID. It’s just…slower.

Apple has implemented a process whereby Touch ID pauses just a beat before it unlocks the phone — to make sure you really did mean to unlock it. That’s sensible, but just adds to the jarring feeling of not being able to get into your phone instantaneously.

The way I’ve been getting around it is to swipe up from the lock screen (muscle memory at this point) at the same time as engaging Touch ID. This combination seems to unlock the phone a little bit faster. It’s not an idea solution but I can now do it pretty quickly. If Apple is already drawing up plans for an iPhone Duo 2, I really hope we get a Face ID upgrade.

I’m treating this thing with kid gloves!

There’s been…ah, some backlash over screen problems with the iPhone Duo and — so far at least — I haven’t had any sign of screen cracking, hinge failures, or any kind of dust and water ingress. We, and many other reviewers, have praised Apple for its commitment to durability with the iPhone Duo, but looking after this thing has been front of mind ever since I unboxed it.

I want a phone that can take the hits and keep on truckin’ and every time I take the iPhone Duo out to use it, I’m acutely aware it’s a $2k piece of technology.

As a result, I’m treating this thing with kid gloves even though I have full faith in Apple’s durability testing. And just to be sure, I’ve encased it in the standard iPhone Duo MagSafe case to give it a little bit more protection.

Final thoughts

If you disregard the hype around a brand-new form-factor device from Apple and look at the Duo critically, there are some definite conclusions on what it is and whether or not you should buy it.

For starters, this is a gadget that genuinely gets you excited about technology again, and I don’t want to underestimate that. Secondly, with the full force of one of the world’s biggest companies behind it, the software kinks will undoubtedly be ironed out soon, third parties will get on board quickly, and customer service should be able to cope with any complaints from early adopters.

But then again, this is very much a first-gen product, and I expect the iPhone Duo 2 will be a far, far better buy. There’ll be Face ID for a start, but also camera improvements and probably a reduction in weight and thickness.

If it seems like I'm being harsh with a few of the points above then that's only because — at $2K, I place a pretty high bar of expectation against it. And to be clear, there are so so many things that are brilliant about this phone. Did I mention the nano-texture display? But also, you can use this with an Apple Pencil and the A20 Pro chipset is just blisteringly powerful. In fact, consider that takeaway number six: the speed and fluidity of iOS 27 on this phone is a wonder to behold!

More from Tom's Guide

• Cancel your iPhone Duo pre-order: Here's why I think the iPad mini 8 and iPhone 18 Pro combo is cheaper and better
• iPad mini 8 vs iPad mini 7: What's new, and is it worth buying?
• I put the iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max through a 10-round camera face-off — here’s what you're giving up

Between testing whether our iPhones really listen to us for targeted ads and writing guides on shutting down smart TV snooping, I’m pretty used to investigating microphone privacy. But seeing @cybersecuritygirl's reel about a hidden Apple feature logging transcripts made me stop and take a closer look.

I dug straight into my iPhone's setting to investigate what was going on. The culprit being called out is a built-in feature called Live Listen — and while it may seem like covert spyware on the surface, the reality of its purpose is actually quite different.

What Live Listen actually is (and why it exists)

In iOS, Live Listen is an accessibility tool rather than spyware or an automated snooping algorithm. Apple introduced it to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing by turning the iPhone into a remote microphone that beams clear audio straight to AirPods, Beats, or compatible hearing aids.

It is meant for tuning in to someone across a noisy cafe or lecture hall, not for logging conversations or creating secret transcripts. The only genuine privacy issue is physical: because Bluetooth reaches 10 to 15 metres, someone can leave an active phone on a desk and listen in from the next room.

More from Tom's Guide

• After spending three months testing iOS 27, these 5 features are my absolute favorite
• In the era of the iPhone Duo and endless feeds, Apple's iPod easter egg hits differently
• iOS 27 has a hidden anti-scam setting — here’s why every iPhone user should turn it on

​Apple’s had a chaotic launch week. With the iPhone Duo finally available, tracking one down has proven nearly impossible amid thin inventory and ongoing shipping delays. Yet despite the supply crunches, initial reception to Apple’s first-ever foldable has been remarkably strong.

I’m harder to convince. Having tested many of the best foldable phones this year, I stacked the iPhone Duo directly against its biggest rivals: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, Motorola Razr Fold, and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

None of these book-style foldables come cheap. If you’re preparing to drop nearly $2,000 on a next-generation foldable, here's how each device stacks up in daily use — and the one model that genuinely earns my recommendation.

Quick Specifications

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The iPhone Duo’s biggest rival is none other than Samsung’s equally wide Galaxy Z Fold 8, which features similar passport-like proportions before opening into a mini tablet with a 4:3 aspect ratio. A $100 price difference separates the two, with Samsung's handset saving you some cash upfront.

​In our iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 face-off, we break down how both perform across every key metric. The Duo delivers a brighter display, longer-lasting battery life, and superior chipset performance. In my camera shootout, I handed the iPhone Duo a decisive, one-sided victory.

​When it comes to AI and software utility, however, the edge goes to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 simply because Google Gemini is significantly more capable than Siri AI. Gemini handles intricate app-level tasks with ease — like placing a Dunkin' Donuts order through DoorDash — where Siri still falls short.

While third-party apps feel more naturally optimized on the iPhone Duo, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 remains an unrivaled multitasking powerhouse, capable of running three active windows side by side. On top of that, Samsung DeX provides a genuine desktop computing environment when plugged into an external display. By contrast, the iPhone Duo only mirrors its screen, which limits serious workstation utility.

This is a razor-thin matchup, and depending on whether your priority is cameras and battery life or raw software productivity, both devices make a compelling case.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

​After experiencing the wider aspect ratio of the Z Fold 8, returning to the taller, squarish canvas of traditional book-style foldables takes some adjustment. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra takes the core strengths of the base model and scales them up, though its $2,099 price tag demands serious commitment. Thankfully, that premium is backed by an elite triple-camera system.

​With a dedicated 10MP telephoto lens featuring 3x optical zoom, the Ultra delivers dramatically cleaner long-range shots than the iPhone Duo or the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8. Because both dual-camera competitors rely entirely on digital sensor crops for magnification, their zoomed photos simply can't match the Ultra’s sharpness or detail.

​Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy delivers stellar CPU and GPU benchmark figures, while outstanding power efficiency allows the 5,000 mAh battery to outlast nearly every foldable on the market. Furthermore, its rigid hinge enables seamless Flex Mode utility, splitting app interfaces cleanly when propped open on a desk.

​Ultimately, the case for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra rests on its unmatched endurance, superior optical zoom versatility, and record-setting peak panel brightness — our lab testing confirmed it is the brightest display we have ever measured on a smartphone.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

​Out of the bunch, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the one I’d least recommend. It isn’t a bad phone, but it's clearly outmatched by the competition. The primary reason for choosing it over other options is its suite of exclusive Pixel software features.

​Take Rambler, which I consider the best voice-to-text dictation tool available because of how intelligently it catches slip-ups and autocorrects on the fly. On the video front, it is the only foldable here that doubles as a teleprompter when filming yourself using Creator Mode.

​Beyond those perks, running stock Android 17 means the broader AI experience feels largely familiar. Google Gemini behaves no differently on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold than on rival hardware, offering identical task automation and proactive assistant prompts. You also get a functional Pixel desktop mode when plugged into an external monitor and a dedicated 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.

​Even with its lower $1,899 starting price, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold fails to make a lasting impression, held back by an uninspired design, weak battery endurance, and benchmark scores that lag behind the pack.

Motorola Razr Fold

Not surprisingly, I’ve used the Motorola Razr Fold the longest — and not simply because it launched ahead of the competition. It certainly has its compromises, most notably the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which shouldn't be confused with the more capable Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 found in top-tier flagships.

​Even with that performance gap, the Razr Fold delivers arguably the best value. Its $1,899 starting price includes a generous 512GB of onboard storage — double what rivals offer at their entry tiers. On top of that, it boasts the longest endurance in the category thanks to a massive 6,000 mAh battery. While benchmark figures for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 trail class leaders, real-world navigation and multitasking feel consistently fluid.

​Where the device truly surprised me was camera performance, particularly in its computational image processing. In fact, its AI enhancements sharpen 3x telephoto shots so effectively that they regularly beat out the images captured by the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s 5x optical lens. The software package is equally compelling, featuring Moto AI productivity tools and Smart Connect, which unlocks a full-fledged desktop environment when plugged into an external monitor.

​Because it nails battery endurance, base storage capacity, and desktop flexibility, it easily remains one of my primary daily drivers.

Bottom Line

​If you're heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone Duo remains the smartest pick. For the price, Apple delivers an exceptionally engineered device with premium trimmings that set a high benchmark for foldables. Apple has clearly poured a lot of effort into its software, though third-party app optimization still has room to improve.

​But if you're platform-agnostic and simply deciding which book-style foldable delivers the best return on a $2,000 investment, I recommend the Motorola Razr Fold. It's the dark horse of the lineup and Motorola executed brilliantly on its first large-screen foldable. Between its long battery endurance, durable kevlar vest-like construction, and shockingly capable zoom processing, it really is the one foldable in this showdown I would spend my own money on.

More from Tom's Guide

• I put the iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max through a 10-round camera face-off — here’s what you're giving up
• First iPhone 18e specs leak point towards a disappointing upgrade for Apple's next low-cost iPhone
• Cancel your iPhone Duo pre-order: Here's why I think the iPad mini 8 and iPhone 18 Pro combo is cheaper and better

Once you’ve settled your navigation, whether you stick with Google Maps or switch your default to Waze, Android Auto’s job usually feels done. But leaving your dashboard on cruise control with just turn-by-turn directions and a music feed misses the platform’s best utility.

You don't need a center console cluttered with dozen of icons, but these three third-party apps solve real-world driving headaches that standard navigation can't touch.

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• This hidden setting changed the way I use Android Auto — and I'm never going back

Variable aperture is easily the standout feature on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Powered by a mechanical iris of sorts and made up of six individual laser-cut blades, this system lets users control how much light actually enters the main camera lens. The idea being that taking that control lets you employ different effects and techniques to get your desired shot.

The problem is Apple doesn't make it very clear how to control the aperture. You're just handed a phone with a camera app, and left to try and figure it out for yourself. Which is hardly ideal when this is one of the major selling points of the latest flagship iPhones.

Here's how to use the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max's variable aperture camera system, as well as the kind of things you can actually do when you take control of the light hitting your lens.

How to control aperture on iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

How to Add Lens Aperture to quick settings

If you plan on using variable aperture frequently, you might want to make it a little easier to access. You can do this by adding the setting to the Camera app's quick settings menu at the very top of the page. Here's how to do it.

What controlling the aperture can offer you

F-stop values can be somewhat intimidating for those of you that aren't well versed in camera lore, and you may be confused as to what the benefits of tinkering with the aperture might offer. We have a full breakdown on the benefits of variable aperture, but here's a quick rundown on what to expect from each aperture level.

f/1.48 is a wider aperture that enables a natural bokeh effect, without all the algorithms that power dedicated features like Portrait Mode.

This aperture also helps aid quality in darker conditions, helping the camera capture as much light as possible — and in turn helps reduce the exposure times utilized by traditional low light camera modes. That extra light also means you can minimize shutter speed, and photograph moving subjects without suffering as much motion blur.

f/4.0 does the total opposite of f/1.8, expanding the depth of field to ensure sharpness across the entire photo. This is perfect for photos of groups or scenery where all the details are important — not just the ones in the foreground.

Pairing f/4.0 with longer shutter speeds also helps create intentional motion blur. This means stationary targets are captured in ultra clarity, while everything else is blurred in a stylized way.

More from Tom's Guide

• I put the iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max through a 10-round camera face-off — here’s what you're giving up
• First iPhone 18e specs leak point towards a disappointing upgrade for Apple's next low-cost iPhone
• Cancel your iPhone Duo pre-order: Here's why I think the iPad mini 8 and iPhone 18 Pro combo is cheaper and better

I’m constantly rotating through different power banks, but it’s refreshing to come across one that lets me charge both my phone and my laptop. The Lisen P604 MagSafe Power Bank not only packs a hefty 10,000 mAh capacity for on-the-go convenience, but it's also powerful enough to charge larger electronics like my laptop.

Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon is offering an instant $16 discount, slashing 23% off the regular price. Given its compact size, versatile charging capabilities, and clever design touches, it’s no surprise that it has found a permanent spot in my camera bag.

First of all, the Lisen P604 MagSafe Power Bank can charge my iPhone 18 Pro at its top 25W wireless speed. Snapped onto the back, it provides a convenient way to charge while I’m out and nowhere near an outlet. Unlike other MagSafe power banks capped at slower 15W speeds, this one tops up battery levels significantly faster when I'm running low. With its 10,000 mAh capacity, I can get nearly two full charges on my phone before the power bank itself needs a recharge.

What makes it even better is its 60W wired charging support, which is more than enough to juice up my laptop. I’ve been using the Acer Googlebook 14 for over a week now, and the P604 supplies power effortlessly over USB-C, making it an indispensable tool when I’m in a pinch.

Lisen thought of just about everything when designing the P604. It includes a standard USB-A port for older devices, as well as an attached USB-C cable that doubles as a carrying lanyard. I prefer this integrated setup because I never have to worry about leaving a cable behind.

Factoring in the variety of colors and the discount Amazon is offering ahead of Black Friday, the Lisen P604 MagSafe Power Bank delivers tremendous value.

Early 2027 is going to be an odd time for iPhones, with rumors suggesting Apple will launch the iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e at the same time. Personally I think that's a pretty odd decision to release the standard iPhone 18 alongside its low-cost counterpart, but I guess everything hinges on how much of a difference there is between the two phones.

The first iPhone 18e specs have just leaked, courtesy of Digital Chat Station on Weibo, and that gives us an idea of what we might expect from the 18e. None of it is surprising, though, and a few specs are still a little disappointing.

According to the leak the iPhone 18e will feature a 6.12-inch OLED display, with a 60Hz refresh rate, alongside the A20 chip, a single 48MP camera and a front camera that may be upgraded to 24MP.

Obviously the 60Hz refresh rate is not something people will be pleased about, especially since the other non-Pro iPhones feature an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate. But considering how long Apple took to upgrade those screens, I'll be surprised if the e-Series doesn't keep the low refresh rate for a few more years. Those cost savings have to come from somewhere, after all.

The other specs are all pretty uneventful, all things considered. The solo camera is a staple of the e-Series, and the last two generations have featured the latest Apple chipset — even if it isn't the Pro variant. However the actual performance power will hinge on how much RAM the phone has.

Some rumors suggest the phone will have 9GB of memory, up from 8GB. That would be an improvement, but it's still below the 12GB of RAM needed to run the latest on-device AI features like Expressive Voices and advanced dictation.

The selfie camera upgrade is potentially interesting, since the iPhone 17 has an 18MP front camera. There have been rumors suggesting the iPhone 18 could get an upgrade, and we don't see the 18e getting a higher resolution front camera before the standard model.

We still don't know when the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will launch. But considering the iPhone 17e launched in February, it's a good bet that Apple will stick to a similar window for its next wave of slightly cheaper iPhones.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Which foldable is the best?
• After spending three months testing iOS 27, these 5 features are my absolute favorite
• Apple responds to iPhone Duo cracked inner screens — what to do if your phone is affected

So Apple just dropped the highly anticipated OLED iPad mini 8 to kick off its “Pro and Tell” week, and on paper, it’s a $699 powerhouse that you best believe I’m pre-ordering.

But look closer, and you may see that the tablet’s surprise arrival just created a massive problem for Cupertino’s most hyped product of the year. Because in my opinion, Apple essentially just nerfed the iPhone Duo.

For the past few weeks, the tech world has been obsessed with the new foldable, and it’s a great piece of hardware for sure. But let me explain why pairing a standard iPhone 18 Pro with the new iPad mini 8 isn’t just a better big-screen experience — it’s actually cheaper, stronger and infinitely more reliable.

Here’s the math

So, my first reason is cutting straight to the numbers. Apple’s leap into the foldable market is expensive. You are paying at least $2,000 for the privilege of a folding screen.

But what happens when you unbundle that experience?

• iPhone 18 Pro: $1,199
• iPad mini 8: $699
• Total: $1,898

Don’t get me wrong — that's still a hefty chunk of change. But for significantly less than a Duo, you can have a flagship iPhone with a better camera (and better battery life), and a dedicated 8.5-inch OLED tablet.

You get the same expansive inky-black OLED canvas for reading, gaming and watching movies, but you keep over $100 in your pocket. Apple has inadvertently priced its own foldable out of the market for anyone willing to carry a small bag.

The durability trap

Now, if you’ve been anywhere on the internet recently, you’ve seen that iPhone Duo screens are cracking. iFixit did a teardown and noted a potential hinge design flaw that could be causing it.

Make no mistake: IP68 resistance rating aside, foldables are incredibly fragile pieces of tech with moving mechanical hinges. Even if it's a small percentage, the risk of damage does go up.

Now look at the iPad mini 8. The speaker grilles are eliminated in favor of what the company’s calling an Acoustic Display — speakers behind the screen. And there’s no folding mechanism here. It’s a solid slab of aluminum and rigid glass (with no crease to be found).

Why spend two grand on a fragile folding screen when you can buy a sealed OLED tablet that you can casually toss into a backpack (or big pocket) without a second thought?

No spec compromises

Usually, separating your devices means you are sacrificing power on the tablet side. Not this time.

The iPad mini 8 skipped several generations of silicon to pack the 2nm A20 Pro chip you’ll find in the Duo and 18 Pro. And while nothing about RAM has been formally announced yet, I’m guessing it’ll sport the same 8-12GB of memory (maybe 8GB on that base model, but again, not confirmed).

It also features the new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Thread, and the C2 chip for a beastly 5G modem.

You aren’t getting a watered-down companion device; you’re getting a tablet that’s just as powerful as the Duo with a massive battery. Plus, that iPhone 18 Pro has a much better camera system to boot.

My verdict

I don’t want this to feel like a dunk on the iPhone Duo. It is a fundamentally great foldable, and if you’re in that crowd that loves the versatility, you’ll love it.

But look past the shiny status symbol — to me, the iPad mini 8 just proved foldables are a bad investment for most of us.

If you want the ultimate mobile setup, the play is obvious. Cancel your iPhone Duo pre-order. Pick up a standard iPhone 18 Pro for daily comms and photography, and spend the rest on an OLED iPad mini 8 for bigger-screen consumption and gaming.

You’ll save money, get a larger OLED screen and most importantly, you won’t wake up in a cold sweat worrying that a grain of sand just destroyed your $2,000 phone.

More from Tom's Guide

• We predicted the OLED MacBook Pro's $500 price hike — here's what the leaks say and why MacBook Air buyers may miss out
• I strapped a touchscreen to my MacBook Pro to see if macOS is ready — 3 things that need fixing quickly
• At $1,000, Apple's rumored HomeView Max better do the dishes, too

As our children venture into the world, there's a fine line between wanting them to be more independent while also being able to reach or find them when you need to. One option is to give them an old smartphone, but as a parent, I don't necessarily want to give them access to everything a smartphone can do, from apps to the internet as a whole.

Fortunately, multiple companies are developing and selling kid-friendly mobile phones. These are different from the popular landline Wi-Fi phones like Tin Can, which are restricted to your home.

Rather, through parental controls or design, these cellular phones restrict what your kid has to access while giving them a device that they can use to call you, friends or other family members.

With that in mind, I looked at five manufacturers of kid-friendly mobile phones. For this comparison, I checked out offerings from Bark, Gabb, Pinwheel, Yello!, and Waffle.

Read on to find out what each maker offers, subscription prices, and more.

Plans and Networks

Every phone maker sells both the device and a separate plan that you can subscribe to through the company. The network plans are hosted on an MVNO network, meaning that they piggyback on a larger company's service.

For example, Bark is an MVNO for T-Mobile, while Gabb runs on Verizon's network.

This does mean that you have pay for the device separately (or as part of a plan) as well as signing up for a cellphone plan. Here's what that will cost you.

Design

Of the five companies we looked at for this test, only one offered a phone that was significantly different from your standard smartphone: the Waffle — more on that in a bit.

The difference between the other four comes down to the number of phones available and the unique offering systems meant to give parents more safety controls and limitations on what kids can access.

They all offer phones built by Motorola or Samsung. Bark is made by Samsung, the Gabb phone is Nuu-made, Pinwheel offers three different options from Samsung, Motorola and a company logo I couldn't figure out, and Yello! is a Motorola device. They all appear to be Android-based phones.

Of these, the Bark phone is the most like a normal smartphone, including the ability to install any number of apps and web browsers.

Parental controls

Every one of these companies offers some kind of parent portal where you can set time limits and determine which phone numbers can contact or call out from the phone.

Bark and Gabb are a little looser with the phone calls, featuring spam blocking and monitoring, but anyone can call those phones.

Pinwheel, Waffle and Yello! are more restrictive, letting parents set up what numbers can call in or out of the phone. These are perhaps best for people who are looking to get their child their first smartphone.

Internet access

None of the phones give kids access to the whole of the internet (save Bark, sort of), but they do get to feel a little more mature with a smartphone of their own.

Accessible apps

As mentioned, Bark is the closest to a standard smartphone, meaning that apps you can download for your Galaxy S26 are available on the Bark phone, including social media apps like Instagram and YouTube.

Bark lets parents block apps using its parental controls.

By comparison, Gabb has its own custom apps like Gabb Music and Gabb Messenger. Gabb Music is curated with age-appropriate songs that kids can stream safely. Gabb claims every song, and even album artwork, is curated to be kid-friendly.

Pinwheel straddles the middle between Gabb and Bark with an App Library that contains a list of 900 curated apps based on the company's "therapist council" recommendations. Pinwheel rates the apps based on approval, so green means it falls within safe guidelines, like a Sketchbook app for drawing, but apps like Duolingo or Messenger Kids are considered "slightly out of bounds" thanks to things like media sharing or, in Duolingo's case, ads. Finally, some accessible apps like Spotify are considered inappropriate due to mature content or other guideline violations.

I want to note that I've seen posts on places like Reddit where parents have complained that their kids have been able to find backdoor exploits to get online or into blocked apps because these phones are just smartphones.

Yello! is the most restrictive, with no web browser, social media, or an app store. It comes preloaded with a calculator, weather, clock and some game apps. The games can be turned off in the parent portal.

The Waffle difference

I specifically didn't compare the Waffle phone with any of the other options above because the Waffle Go is a totally different device. It's like comparing a Nokia brick phone to an iPhone.

The Waffle phone looks more like a walkie-talkie. There is no screen; instead, LED lights show the time, battery life, and who is calling with whatever label you've put in. Using the parental control app, you can add the contacts that your kid can call from the Waffle.

You can also add other Waffle devices if your child's friends have them.

Waffle does offer Live GPS that you can track through the app.

It's the simplest cell phone system I've found for kids that isn't just a weak smartphone. The monthly payment plan is cheaper than the other phones, and while the $169 device price isn't the lowest, it lands about in the middle pricewise.

The high price is a bit off-putting for what looks like a nice walkie-talkie, but of all the options, I lean toward the Waffle Go because you don't need to futz with apps, an extensive parental control system, or a precocious child finding a backdoor to the internet.

Alternatives

If you don't want to try any of these companies, there are other options.

You could dip your toes in the water by trying out a landline Wi-Fi phone. We recently tested options from Pinwheel, Ring Ring, Tin Can, and Waffle.

You could also try a locked-down smartwatch with GPS and cellular connectivity, which won't have the apps and social media like a normal smartphone.

Since most of these phones are Android-based, you could turn a leftover Android phone more kid-friendly. Parental controls can be set up using Google Family Link, which allows you to supervise your child's device. Family Link includes screen time limits, approving app downloads/purchases, location tracking, and more. Fair warning, setup is a lengthy process, but we have a step-by-step guide to get you going.

Alternatively, Apple built a distraction-free phone inside iOS 17 that the company never really advertised. Basically, the Assistive Access feature turns your iPhone into a dumbphone that strips away the complexities of the iOS ecosystem and replaces it with massive simplified blocks. So, you could turn an older iPhone into a perfect dumb phone for your kids.

And hey, the Nokia brick — or a version of it — still exists. That's always an option.

More from Tom's Guide

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• These are the best GPS trackers for kids on Android and iPhone
• How to track your kids screen time — and the best tools to do it

Apple's phone dominated in my iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 photo face-off, which continues to show that Apple certainly makes some of the best camera phones around. However, the iPhone Duo now faces an even tougher challenge with the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

On paper, this matchup highlights two entirely different camera systems, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max being the undisputed benchmark for versatility. That’s because it’s armed with a triple-camera system that features a dedicated telephoto camera, a mechanical variable aperture on the main sensor, and Pro Controls that give shooters like me more granular control.

Meanwhile, the iPhone Duo trades away that optical reach in favor of form-factor innovation that content creators will immediately appreciate. Much like other notebook-style foldables, the Duo lets me frame and record high-quality vlogs and selfies using the superior rear cameras while using the external cover display as a real-time viewfinder.

For this iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off, I’ll be comparing their side-by-side results to ultimately determine a winner. Here’s what I found.

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Daytime

Both devices come with 48MP main cameras, but while the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the faster f/1.48 aperture lens, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference in these daytime shots. Not only do they match each other in exposure and color temperature, but the 18 Pro Max casts a slightly stronger contrast that’s most evident in the shadowed areas of the tree on the left side.

That’s about the only meaningful difference I can see in how they capture this scene. When I zoom into some of the details, like the textures of the surrounding rocks, the colorful signs on the left, and the shrubs toward the right, they both deliver near-identical results — so it comes down to personal preference.

Winner: tie

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Ultrawide

Switching over to their respective 48MP ultrawide cameras, which both feature f/2.2 apertures, I found another close matchup in how they capture this expansive view of the lakeside beach. Much like the daytime shots, there’s very little separating the two at first glance — both nail the blue sky, the sandy shoreline, and the distant treeline.

Winner: tie

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Colors

Indoors, it again looks like both iPhones deliver similar results — but I’m judging them specifically on how they handle color reproduction. The iPhone 18 Pro Max catches my eye with its warmer colors, which are much more appealing than the cooler cast of the iPhone Duo. For that simple reason, the iPhone 18 Pro Max takes this round.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Dynamic range

I really like how both phones try to balance out the exposure throughout the shot, which makes uncovering their differences a bit trickier. All the pumpkins in this alcove are properly exposed, including those farthest back and sitting deeper in the shade — but the iPhone 18 Pro Max does a slightly better job of handling the highlights.

If you look at the straw roof overhanging on the left side, the iPhone 18 Pro Max tones down the exposure just right. Against the sunny backdrop, it maintains better contrast against the colorful flowers in the far background.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Macro

Using their macro modes, which are indicated by the flower icon that pops up in their camera apps, I can confidently say that both take stunning close-ups — and these shots of the bright orange zinnia are proof.

The differences are honestly negligible, seeing that you can get very close to your subject with either phone. I really love how much detail and definition they capture, from the yellow stamens and tiny specks of pollen right down to the fine textures and prickly edges along the petals.

Winner: tie

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Selfie

In another closely contested category, both phones are more than capable of capturing excellent selfies with their Center Stage front cameras, though the iPhone Duo makes do with a 12MP sensor versus the slightly beefier 18MP shooter on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. I really like how they handle Mark’s skin tone, delivering a warm look that remains natural and realistic.

Around his face, I can easily make out fine details like the individual strands of hair along his forehead and the light stubble around his chin. Beyond that, both front cameras excel at resolving fine textures across the fabric of his shirt.

Winner: tie

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Portrait

Apple does a great job applying a realistic background blur in these portrait shots of Mark, right down to how it handles the narrow opening between his right arm and torso. The bokeh effect looks natural rather than overly processed, keeping Mark in sharp focus against the background while still preserving fine facial details and the texture of his flannel shirt.

Winner: tie

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Panorama

One of the biggest challenges in capturing panoramas is stitching the scene together seamlessly without odd glitches, warping, or exposure shifts across the frame. Yet, both iPhones manage the process effortlessly — to the point where it’s difficult to spot any real differences.

First and foremost, exposure remains remarkably consistent across the entire sweep, anchored by the deep blue sky, calm water, and distant treeline. Detail capture is outstanding on both, evident in the weathered wood of the floating docks and the numerical lettering on the boats in the center. The only subtle difference is that the iPhone 18 Pro Max pushes a slightly brighter exposure across the trees on the far left, which comes down to personal taste.

Winner: tie

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Zoom

If there’s one category with a substantial performance gap, it’s how these two handle zoom. Because the iPhone Duo lacks a dedicated telephoto camera, it relies entirely on its 48MP main sensor and computational sensor cropping to handle zoom — and as a result, it simply can’t match the same level of detail and clarity.

You can see an immediate difference in the hot dog stand shots above, where the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s dedicated 48MP telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom resolves significantly finer detail at 10x than the iPhone Duo. From the food photos to the printed menu names, everything is much sharper and easier to read on the 18 Pro Max. My colleague dove even deeper into this matchup in his dedicated iPhone Duo zoom test, which expands on my findings.

The iPhone Duo does a slightly better job when there's a lot more light, as you can see in the above shot of a dock and boats. The boats look reasonably sharp, but the "Safety Boat" text is fuzzier through the Duo compared to the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Same thing goes for the Mercury text on the engine. You can even make out the Monmouth County Park System logo on the safety boat, which is is illegible through the Duo.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Low Light

Even though the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a faster f/1.48 aperture on its main camera, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference in these low-light shots indoors. The dimly lit Halloween tabletop display full of dark glass bottles and illuminated orbs is properly exposed when both phones engage Night mode.

For the most part, detail is preserved throughout the scene, including shadowed areas, without appearing too noisy or soft. I do notice, however, that the iPhone Duo pulls up the shadows a smidge better in the area around the base of the orb, but that could simply be due to where the focus and exposure were initially locked.

Winner: tie

iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off: Verdict

If there’s one thing my iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max camera face-off proves, it’s that their main cameras perform superbly across the board. I’m not just talking about daytime scenes that are usually easy to handle — I’m referring to the demanding low-light situations that separate true flagships from everything else.

For the most part, this camera face-off comes down to a near-dead heat given the number of times they tied across categories. Sure, there are a couple of areas where I gave the nod to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the margins were so slim that you could easily argue they could’ve been ties as well.

However, with a dedicated 48MP telephoto lens delivering native 4x optical zoom, the iPhone 18 Pro Max thoroughly outclassed the Duo’s reliance on digital sensor cropping when zooming in. That’s the single area with a substantial performance gap — so unless you crave that extra reach, you can easily get by using the Duo.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Which foldable is the best?
• I put the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Fold 8 through a thermal torture test — here's the winner
• After spending three months testing iOS 27, these 5 features are my absolute favorite

We’re not even a week out from launch, and Apple is already doing damage control with the iPhone Duo. Just days after hitting store shelves, early buyers reported hairline fractures and sudden cracks forming along the inner display’s crease — an unexpected setback given the meticulous engineering touted behind its near-invisible fold.

Now, Apple’s official response confirms the company is actively tracking the issue, stressing that it is “aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units.” More importantly for early adopters, Apple has provided clear instructions on what affected owners should do next.

While Apple is well known for maintaining rigorous quality assurance standards for its marquee devices, it shouldn’t come as a surprise whenever issues do crop up — especially around complex first-generation gadgets. The company was silent regarding cracked screen issues with the Duo initially, but it finally sent out an official statement.

"The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor,” explained Apple’s spokesperson. “We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement."

While social media feeds are buzzing with photos and videos of cracked creases, durability struggles are nothing new for foldable phones. Given their complex hinge mechanisms and fragile inner layers compared to traditional glass slabs, early mechanical failures are always a risk. Complicating matters for Apple, however, is a wave of AI-generated fakes circulating online and pretending to be legitimate customer complaints.

Still, genuine display failures remain a reality across the board, and affected owners should contact AppleCare immediately. Apple's standard limited warranty typically covers display fractures that stem from manufacturing defects — provided the device doesn't show signs of accidental drops or intentional damage.

Did you buy an iPhone Duo? How is your screen holding up? Let us know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• I spent 30 minutes with the iPhone Duo — 3 things you just don't get from photos alone
• I've been testing dozens of iPhone Duo apps — here's my top 15
• I tested the iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 displays side-by-side

The iPhone Duo has now been released, and it looks like early adopters are having to deal with some teething problems. As lucky as they might have felt to snag the sought-after foldable on release day, a bunch of people have reported their screens are cracking — a problem now dubbed "crackgate."

As it always does with new phones, iFixit got hold of the iPhone Duo and took it apart to see how everything works — and whether it's actually repairable or not. That teardown seems to have been very enlightening, revealing some secrets of the hidden hinge, factors that may be behind crackgate, and just how well that phone stands up to dust.

It's also the most repairable foldable phone to date, though other foldable phone makers haven't left the bar particularly high.

Secrets of the hidden crease

The Duo's nano-texture coating is easily removed, and while replaceable, it is a multi-part process. In the meantime, the Duo's display is far more vulnerable to scratches and other damage. Removing it also removes the light-scattering effect, which makes working in bright light much more difficult and means any imperfections in the screen are easier to see — including the crease.

Under the microscope, iFixit can see the textured layer that diffuses incoming light, and looking further shows the pixel layout in the screen itself. Curiously, Apple has adopted a unique (and patented) pixel layout with a mix of round and ovular pixels. Apple says that this is meant to add variation to the pattern, but doesn't say what the benefit is.

iFixit speculates this could be another factor that helps to hide the crease by managing reflections deeper in the display and ensuring that light is less likely to make a distracting pattern. Replacing the nano-texture layer doesn't require a full screen replacement, and will set you back $49 without AppleCare+ — or $19 with it.

Some of the magic happens in the hinge, with Apple opting for the same "waterdrop" hinge design utilized by several smartphones over the past several years. This utilizes a controlled bend of the screen inside the hinge, essentially meaning the screen is half open. This reduces pressure on the fold and minimizes the amount of creasing that occurs in the process.

Apple's version uses a series of mechanical joints that actively prevent the hinge from closing too far — ensuring the screen doesn't fold more than it should.

A dusty Duo?

Using fluorescent dust, iFixit put the iPhone Duo's dust resistance rating to the test. At first, the sheer amount of dust around the outside of the phone shows that there is a pretty good seal on the phone — though the audible crunching around the hinge is a horrible thing to hear. But the phone is still foldable, which is in direct contrast to the Galaxy Z Fold 8's hinge, which was rendered basically unusable.

The dust all seems to have been stopped by the phone's adhesive layer, which means the internals are protected against stray particles getting inside. The same is true of the bezel, but from the looks of things, none of it managed to reach the fragile foldable screen and other electronics.

But the hinge is another matter, and the dust did make its way inside the mechanism — leading to that awful crunching sound. It's less dust than the Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, but it proves that despite the IP68 rating, the iPhone Duo's hinge is not actually sealed against foreign particles. So bear that in mind.

iFixit notes that because of this, all foldable phones need to focus on both increased hinge protection and a more practical way to fix any damage.

One possible explanation for Crackgate

If you've been paying attention to social media this weekend, you may have noticed that some iPhone Duo users have started reporting damage to their screens. Dubbed "crackgate," it looks as though the damage is happening in the same place for everyone, with a white line down the center of the screen and across the right side.

Users often describe folding or unfolding the Duo, followed by an audible crunch. Teardowns reveal that the hinge is shaped a little differently in this spot, but it's also an area where a lot of different parts come together. Those include a protruding leaf, the accordion-shaped electrical cable that connects the two sides of the phone, and the edge of the battery on the right side of the phone is close by.

One possible answer given by iFixit is that the center support bar doesn't fall far enough when the screen is folding, which causes the display to make contact. This concentrated stress could be what's causing the screen to break.

How repairable is it?

The first thing noticed during the actual teardown was that the iPhone Duo's cover screen comes off a lot more easily than most foldable phones, which is a slight win for Apple. Though iFixit immediately came across two hidden screws, which is really counterproductive. The team also noted that the outer screen is pretty robust, and the plastic bezel that caused a bunch of issues with the iPhone 18 Pro teardown stayed intact. Which is helpful considering pretty much every repair is going into the phone down this route.

The batteries are held in place by Apple's ionic adhesive, which detaches when a current passes through it. The difference here is that there are two separate batteries, which requires this step to be done twice. The batteries also live in different areas, with one behind the cover display and another behind the back glass — which adds a little complexity to the process. However, iFixit comments that it is the best battery removal they've experienced on a foldable.

Other notable repairability wins include a USB-C port that's much easier to access and remove, and a relatively flat design that makes a lot of the key components easily accessible during the assembly process.

Removing the foldable display is also much less painful than anticipated. The trim around the screen peels off nicely and easily, in contrast to the Z Fold 8, which had a trim that was ruined during disassembly. Sadly, removing the screen itself is more of a struggle — requiring a mix of heat and force to peel away. No wonder an AppleCare-free replacement costs $999.

Overall, this is not iFixit's first choice for those looking to have an easily replaceable smartphone. However, it is the most repairable foldable the team has tested, and that's all the more impressive considering this is a first-generation product. But that distinction is a relative one, with the iPhone Duo still getting a provisional repairability score of five out of ten.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Which foldable is the best?
• I put the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Fold 8 through a thermal torture test — here's the winner
• After spending three months testing iOS 27, these 5 features are my absolute favorite

After what feels like and endless amount of waiting, the iPhone Duo is finally here. Apple's first foldable has generated a lot of buzz, and despite some flaws it seems as though reception has been largely positive. Can Apple steal Samsung's crown as the maker of the best foldable phone though?

Samsung has almost a decade of experience making foldables, and the fresh new look of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 shows that it's not given up trying new things just yet. Even if it emphasizes the compact (and arguably more comfortable) design, rather than the flashy features you'll find on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The thing we want to know is which of these two passport-shaped foldables is actually the better choice for you. Now that we've had chance to test the iPhone Duo in all its glory, here's our full comparison of the iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 to help you decide.

iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Specifications

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Price & availability

Both the iPhone Duo and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 are officially on sale right now. But if you want to get technical about it, demand for the Duo has been so extreme that every single carrier and retailer is sold out — and will be for the foreseeable future.

Current iPhone Duo wait times mean the absolute earliest time you'll get an iPhone Duo is the end of November, though most retailers and carriers have delivery estimates in late December and January. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is readily available, and is actually on sale at retailers like Amazon.

The cost of an iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,499 for a model with 256GB of storage. Higher storage options are available including 512GB ($2,199 / £2,199 / AU$3,899), 1TB ($2,599 / £2,599 / AU$4,699) and 2TB ($3,199 / £3,199 / AU$5,899).

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 prices start at $1,899/£1,699/AU$2,699 for 256GB of storage and 12GB RAM. The 512GB model is $2,099 / £1,869 / AU$2,999, and a 1TB model with 16GB of RAM costs $2,499 / £2,209 / AU$3,599. Samsung does not offer a 2TB storage option.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design & Display

The iPhone Duo and Z Fold 8 both have the passport-shaped design that is starting to take the foldable phone market by storm. Both phones include a large 7.6-inch foldable display with an aspect ratio close to 4:3, which is the same kind of display you'll find on the best tablets.

The Z fold 8 has a slightly larger outer display, though, with a 5.5-inch screen to Apple's 5.4-inches. The sharp corners also mean there's a little more real estate for the apps to work with compared to Apple's asymmetrical rounded design.

The Z Fold 8 features an anti-glare coating which is designed to improve visibility in low-light conditions. The iPhone Duo features a nano-texture display, which offers a matte feel to the screen. This is also designed to minimize glare, while also reducing the visibility of the crease. While the phone does accomplish both those things, the nano-texture display doesn't have nearly as good color saturation and contrast as Samsung's main display.

Both phones have similar brightness levels on the screen, though we found that the Z Fold 8 is a little bit brighter. In our testing Samsung's foldable had a peak brightness of 2,649 nits, while the iPhone maxed out at 2,558. It's less than 90 nits difference, which isn't going to be noticeable to many, but the numbers don't lie.

In terms of design, the iPhone Duo is noticeably thicker and heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung's foldable is 4.5mm thick with a weight of 7.09 ounces. Meanwhile, the iPhone Duo is 5.2mm thick and weights 8.96 ounces. Not only is that almost two ounces more than the Z Fold 8, it also means this is the heaviest iPhone Apple has ever made.

Both phones feature power-button fingerprint scanners, and a pair of main cameras on the back of the phone. However while they also utilize the hole-punch camera design on the cover display, only the Galaxy uses the same one for the inner selfie camera. Apple instead opted for an under-display camera that's specifically meant for FaceTime and video calling — not selfies.

iPhone Duo has a key advantage where durability is concerned, thanks to the IP68 rating. This means that the phone is fully sealed against dust ingress, something that the IP48-rated Z Fold 8 offers no protection against. However both offer protection against being submerged in water for a short period of time.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Cameras

From a hardware standpoint, both the Z Fold 8 and iPhone Duo should be fairly evenly matched in the camera department. Apple has equipped its foldable with a pair of 48MP cameras (main and ultrawide) while Samsung has a pair of 50MP lenses.

Neither phone has a telephoto lens, which means your zoomed in shots will not be that impressive.

Of course, modern phone cameras heavily rely on computational photography software, and that can easily make the most difference in photo comparisons. So let's take a look at photos from both phones.

Both phones have capable main cameras, capturing bright colors with a lot of detail. It's worth noting that while the Z Fold 8 is able to capture brighter images, the photos end up a little more washed out in the process.

It's a similar situation with the ultrawide camera too. The iPhone Duo struggled with the darker spots within view, but the brightness on the Z Fold 8 is ramped up by so much that it completely washed out the background details and makes the details much harder to discern.

In terms of Zoom, the Duo and Z Fold 8 are fairly evenly matched, but as the magnification increases, the worse the quality on the Duo actually gets. At 10x magnification, you can see that the Duo is noticeably blurry and more pixelated than the Z Fold 8 — even though its own zoomed shots are nowhere near as good as they could have been with a dedicated telephoto lens.

Photos from the outer selfie camera are a little more clear cut, with the iPhone Duo producing a sharper and less blurry image, without the same washed out effect that seems to be plaguing the Z Fold 8's camera

The iPhone Duo offers noticeably better performance in low light, too. Both cameras managed to brighten up the image, but the Duo managed to produce a noticeably sharper photo than the Samsung.

Overall it seems as though the iPhone Duo has the edge in the camera department. While the Z Fold 8 doesn't take bad photos, and the iPhone Duo has its flaws, the fact is that Apple's foldable seems to do a much better job of capturing its surroundings in a more lifelike way — and without producing a washed out images that loses its spark. If you're looking for a deeper dive, our iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 camera face-off has more samples to check out.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Performance

Apple has already proven that the A20 Pro chipset is an absolute powerhouse of graphics and computing power on the iPhone 18 Pro. To the point where it trumps the Z Fold 8's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Chipset for Galaxy in almost every category. But does that still hold true for the iPhone Duo?

Yes, as it turns out, and you can see the figures below.

It turns out that, per the benchmarking tests, there isn't a whole lot of difference in performance on the iPhone Duo compared to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The figures aren't identical, but they do outpace the Z Fold 8 in everything except AI performance.

Geekbench 7 benchmarks produced scores of 4,007 for a single-core benchmark and 11,363 for multi-core testing — far in excess of the Z Fold 8's 2,978 and 9,811. Similarly 3DMark's Solar Bay Unlimited graphics test came out with a score of 16,496 and an average frame-rate of 62.3 fps. Sadly the Z Fold 8 only managed to produce 12,454 and 47.35 fps.

AI is a different story, though. The Z Fold 8 scored 72,242 in the Geekbench AI 1.7 test, compared to the Duo's 69,438. This means that on-device AI processing should be slightly better on Samsung's foldable.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Software & AI

Apple's made a bunch of major advances in AI this year, thanks to the launch of iOS 27 and Siri AI. This upgraded assistant is capable of performing various different and more complicated tasks, as well as understanding personal context that helps it understand your commands much more easily.

On top of that, iOS 27 features expressive voices for Siri, more advanced dictation, and AI-powered editing features such as Clean Up, Extend and the unique "Reframe" that lets you adjust the angle of your photos. Outside of features available on other iPhones, the Duo comes with a Smart tracking camera feature, which operates in a similar manner to MyFanCam on the Z Fold 8.

The Z Fold 8 comes with all the best Galaxy AI features you'll find on every flagship Galaxy phone, plus all the best parts of Google Gemini. This includes Now Nudge, a context-based tool to resurface relevant information when you need it, Now Brief's regular preparatory reports and the advanced version of Circle to Search that's capable of identifying multiple items at once.

However, the Duo has some drawbacks to its overall UI. The main one is that the taskbar has been pinned to the right side of the screen, with no option to change it — compared to Samsung's traditional bar along the bottom of the phone.

The Duo's multitasking is also limited to running two apps side by side, and doesn't work as consistently when the phone is in portrait mode. The Z Fold 8 supports up to three split-screen apps and as many as five floating app windows — giving it the edge for productive multitasking. The Z Fold 8 also supports the DeX desktop mode, and so far there's no equivalent feature on iPhones.

Right now it feels like Samsung may have an edge with app optimization too. Apple has done a lot to ensure major apps take advantage of the iPhone Duo's larger screen, but Samsung has a head start of several years — and the fact Android itself runs on a huge number of devices of differing sizes.

Only the iPhone Duo offers stylus support, thanks to the Apple Pencil USB-C. Likewise, the Z Fold 8 doesn't fracture Samsung's Flex Mode, which adjusts the UI depending on the angle of the hinge. The Duo does do this, and has multiple different fold states to take advantage of.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Battery

When it comes to total battery capacity, the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 are pretty evenly matched. The Duo offers 4,883 mAh of power reserves, while the Z Fold 8 is slightly lower at 4,800 mAh. However the slight difference in capacity has led to very different results in our battery life testing.

The iPhone Duo lasted 13 hours and 20 minutes in a new version of our battery test, which was optimized for the iPhone Duo. In that same test, which ran simultaneously, the Z Fold 8 only lasted 10 hours and six minutes — which is not particularly great in the grand scheme of things.

Previously the Z Fold 8 has lasted 12hours and 19 minutes in testing, but that's no longer the case — and the current battery life is much lower. However, whichever way you look at it, the iPhone Duo has the clear advantage.

However, the Z Fold 8 has a slight edge when it comes to charging speed, despite the fact its 45W wired charging is noticeably lower than the iPhone Duo's 60W. The Duo reclaimed 42% battery in 15 minutes, compared to the Z Fold 8's 43%, with both numbers rising to a respective 66% and 70%.

It's not a huge amount of difference, but if you want to recoup as much power as you can as quickly as possible, the Z Fold 8 actually has Apple beat. Though its wireless charging speed is limited to 20W, compared to the Duo's 25W, and it lacks the internal magnets that facilitate Qi2 or MagSafe chargers and accessories.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Bottom line

Apple has done great things with the iPhone Duo, and it manages to edge out competition from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in a number of key areas. The main ones, of course, being battery life, performance, overall camera performance and the fact it has stylus support.

That said, the Z Fold 8 offers a lot and it feels like it has Apple beat when it comes to AI and software capabilities. Not to mention the fact it's cheaper, thinner and lighter than Apple's foldable, and the anti-glare coating means the colors from the screen really pop compared to the iPhone.

When deciding between the two, it's going to come down to what you actually want out of a foldable. If you value the software experience above all else, then the Z Fold 8 is going to be the right option for you. But if you like Apple products, and prefer a phone that is physically more capable, then the Duo might be the better option.

Then again, considering the iPhone Duo is sold out everywhere, and you're going to have to wait at least several weeks before you can actually get your hands on one.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple iPhone Duo 2 with Face ID is reportedly being tested even before the first foldable hits shelves
• I put the iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Fold 8 through a 10-round photo face-off — and there's a clear winner
• 'Polished but rough': The common flaws in the iPhone Duo found by nine different reviewers

With the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple has made some major changes to the camera hardware. For the first time, the company has introduced a variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro series, allowing the main camera to switch between f/1.48 and f/4.0.

This means the camera can physically control how much light enters the sensor, which should result in better photos across different lighting conditions. Or at least that's the theory.

But as Android smartphones have shown us time and again, iPhones don't necessarily take the best smartphone photos. I've had the chance to use the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max for the past two weeks, and after capturing more than 200 photos with both phones, I think it's pretty clear that despite the new hardware, Apple still has quite a bit of catching up to do.

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max: A closer look at the hardware

Before we get into the camera samples, it's worth quickly going through the camera hardware on both the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Oppo Find X10 Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max features a new 48MP Fusion main camera with a variable aperture ranging from f/1.48 to f/4.0. Alongside that, you get a 48MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view and a 48MP telephoto camera offering up to 4x optical zoom.

The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max, on the other hand, is the first smartphone to feature a triple 200MP camera setup. This includes a 200MP f/1.5 main camera using a sensor co-developed with Samsung, a 200MP ultrawide sensor with a 124-degree FoV, and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera offering up to 3x optical zoom.

Of course, the Oppo also benefits from Hasselblad camera tuning. The company has introduced its new LUMO True Image Engine as well, which Oppo claims processes photos to reproduce colors and details as naturally as possible.

Purely in terms of hardware, the Find X10 Pro Max seems to have an advantage with its triple 200MP camera system, although megapixels alone don't tell the whole story. The iPhone, meanwhile, has the advantage of a variable aperture, which should give it more control over light and depth of field in different shooting conditions.

So, to see how much of a difference all this hardware actually makes, I captured nearly 200 photos using both phones across different scenarios and here's what I found.

It's worth noting that all the photos in this comparison were taken in the default point-and-shoot mode on both phones, without manually adjusting any Pro camera controls.

Daylight Shots

Starting with daylight shots, I believe both phones do an excellent job of capturing photos. But there are some noticeable differences in how the two phones handle colors and exposure.

In the first set of photos above, both phones capture plenty of detail in the buildings and the surrounding scene, but I personally prefer how the Oppo handles the overall exposure.

If you look closely at the trees, the iPhone 18 Pro Max tends to underexpose them slightly, making the darker areas look more shadowy than they should. The Find X10 Pro Max, on the other hand, does a better job of balancing the exposure, bringing out more detail in the trees without making the brighter parts of the image look washed out.

The second set of photos, however, is where the iPhone fights back. Looking at the colorful buildings, I actually prefer how the iPhone 18 Pro Max handles the scene. The colors look a little more balanced, particularly on the red and yellow buildings, while the geometric patterns on the central building have slightly better contrast.

The Oppo still produces an excellent photo, but its punchier processing doesn't necessarily work in its favor here. The iPhone's slightly more restrained approach makes the overall image look more natural to my eyes. Ultimately, this is a pretty close contest, and both phones have their strengths.

Winner: Tie

Against bright light

When the subject is against the bright light, such as above, the iPhone 18 Pro Max takes the lead. It seems to do a better job of exposing the face itself, with more even lighting. The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max also produces a bright image, but it seems to overexpose the subject slightly, particularly around the T-shirt.

Looking at the background, both phones manage to retain the blue sky and the details of the sunlit building. Neither phone completely blows out the highlights, which is impressive considering the lighting conditions. That said, I do prefer the overall outcome of the iPhone 18 Pro Max here.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

Portrait

Moving on to portrait shots, the Find X10 Pro Max produces a stronger, creamier bokeh effect that separates the subject from the background much better than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, although both phones produce pretty close results.

I also prefer how Oppo handles skin tones and overall exposure. The Find X10 Pro Max produces a slightly warmer, softer look, while the iPhone's image appears a little brighter and more contrast-heavy. The iPhone does retain excellent detail, and its sharper processing might appeal to some people. However, I find the Oppo's rendering a little more flattering.

Winner: Oppo Find X10 Pro Max

Ultra-wide

Now, on paper, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max has a clear advantage here, thanks to its 200MP ultra-wide sensor and a wider 124-degree field of view. And to be fair, that advantage does show up in the photos, with the Oppo capturing slightly better details. That said, I personally prefer how the iPhone 18 Pro Max processes its ultra-wide photos.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max produces a slightly warmer image, particularly when you look at the stone walls and intricate carvings, while the Oppo takes a more neutral approach. Interestingly, despite the iPhone's warmer processing, I actually prefer how its photos look overall, with the building appearing a little more visually pleasing.

That said, the Oppo does have an advantage in terms of detail. If you zoom in on the intricate carvings, the Find X10 Pro Max retains slightly more detail, which is where its higher-resolution ultrawide camera comes into play. The difference isn't particularly noticeable when viewing the photos normally, but it becomes more apparent when you start looking closely.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

Selfie

Selfies are another area where I think the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max has a clear advantage over the iPhone 18 Pro Max. In the first set of photos, where I'm wearing sunglasses against a bright yellow wall, I much prefer how the Oppo handles the overall image.

The skin tones look closer to how they appear in real life, while the iPhone tends towards slightly red-toned processing. The Oppo also does a better job of balancing the exposure between my face and the bright background.

The second set of photos, taken inside a stone archway, tells a similar story. Once again, the iPhone produces a brighter image, particularly around my face, while the Oppo keeps the exposure more controlled and the skin tones more natural.

Winner: Oppo Find X10 Pro Max

Zoom

On paper, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max comes with a 3x telephoto zoom lens, which can also crop in to deliver 6x zoom, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a slightly longer 4x telephoto lens that can crop in to offer 8x zoom. But as we've seen plenty of times, zoom photography isn't just about how far a camera can zoom in, but also how much detail it can retain.

Starting with the first set of photos, taken of a beautifully detailed building in Lisbon, I prefer what Oppo has done here. The intricate patterns around the windows, the colorful tiles, and even the flowers along the balcony look a little more defined. The Oppo also produces slightly punchier colors, while the iPhone's image looks more contrast-heavy.

The second set, featuring a statue in Lisbon, is a much closer contest. Both phones capture plenty of detail, but Oppo produces a slightly brighter image with more pleasing colors. The iPhone isn't far behind, though, and does a good job of preserving details around the statue and rooftops, but leans slightly towards warmer tones.

Overall, though, Oppo takes this round for its slightly better detail retention and more vibrant processing.

Winner: Oppo Find X10 Pro Max

Low light

Low-light photography is another area where the competition is pretty close, but I think the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a slight advantage over the Find X10 Pro Max.

Starting with the first set of photos taken inside a dimly lit restaurant, I prefer how the iPhone handles the overall exposure. It does a better job of preserving the restaurant's warm lighting and atmosphere without unnecessarily brightening the scene. The Oppo also captures plenty of detail, but its slightly brighter processing makes some parts of the image look less natural.

The difference becomes more noticeable in the second set of photos, taken outdoors at night. The Oppo produces a noticeably brighter portrait, but I think it goes a little too far with the exposure. The iPhone, on the other hand, keeps the lighting more controlled, with better contrast and more natural-looking skin tones.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

Food shots

Food photography is another area where I think the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max has a slight advantage, and this photo of a pizza is a good example of why.

The first thing that stands out is how differently the two phones handle colors. Oppo's AI optimizations kick in, producing slightly warmer and more vibrant images that make the food look more lively. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, on the other hand, takes a slightly cooler approach, making the overall image look a little... less lively.

Winner: Oppo Find X10 Pro Max

Verdict

After taking more than 200 photos with both devices, I can tell you that the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max comes out as the clear winner in this camera face-off.

Apple has undoubtedly done a great job with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the photos coming out of both phones are closer than ever. However, the Find X10 Pro Max, with its large camera sensors and new Luna image processing that aims to keep photos looking as natural as possible, manages to pull ahead in several key areas.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is still one of the best camera phones you can buy, but despite Apple's latest hardware upgrades, I think Oppo has shown that there's still plenty of room for improvement.

More from Tom's Guide

• I shot 200 photos with the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S26 Ultra — here’s the winner
• 'Polished but rough': The common flaws in the iPhone Duo found by nine different reviewers
• The Pixel 11 is a swing-and-a-miss of a phone, but this one AI camera feature is genuinely useful

I spent two days with the iPhone Duo in our test labs running our long list of benchmarks, but before turning it over to my colleague for a full review, I wanted to know: How does the iPhone Duo handle heavy loads like gaming compared to the Z Fold 8 — and what does that mean for how hot the phones will get? Will there be thermal throttling on either phone?

To answer my question, I ran the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test in a 20 minute loop on both phones. These benchmarks simulate a long gaming session, and the results were very different on each phone.

Apple’s phone came out hotter than Samsung’s at the end of my tests, yet it managed to deliver better performance. But does that actually make it a better foldable for gaming and sustained workloads? There’s only one way to find out. Here’s what I found out.

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: The thermal camera analysis

For my test, I set up the iPhone Duo as well as the Z Fold 8 in our Tom’s Guide studio under our normal studio lighting. Both phones were unfolded and set to their default refresh rates, cooled down naturally before placing them screen up on a plastic mat on our studio surface.

I then started the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Benchmark on the interior displays and turned their screens down. Using a FLIR One thermal camera connected to a Pixel phone, it was used to record the rear of the phones during the 20 minute loop.

Results for this test can vary based on setup, but under the thermal imaging camera during sustained stress testing, the two devices showed some really unique heat signatures and thermal dissipation patterns.

On the right side, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a bright, intense heat point concentrated near the top section where the CPU is known to be located. Over time, this hotspot expanded outward across the back surface, and onto the right side screen, turning the surrounding area on both noticeably red under the thermal lens as heat saturated the chassis. The primary spot where the heat signature started from, though, was still bright and hot.

Meanwhile, the iPhone Duo produced a far more balanced, uniform heat map. The heat was distributed across a wider surface area rather than forming a single localized hotspot, keeping surface temperatures and the heat more evenly across the frame and display rather than at one top point.

After checking the temperature on both phones in the same spot, the iPhone was warmer to the touch at 103 degrees. The Z Fold 8, meanwhile, stayed slightly cooler to the touch at around 96 degrees.

A cooler phone might sound better, but my benchmark results revealed a trade-off! The Galaxy Z Fold 8 retained less of its graphics performance during sustained testing, despite its lower exterior temperatures.

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Stress test results

When I recorded the results from the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, the iPhone Duo achieved a higher stability score of 67.9%, showing better sustained performance over the 20-loop stress test compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which scored 51.4%.

The test’s best loop score hit 7,639 on the iPhone Duo, compared to 7,047 on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. This is when the phones are at their best performance. Meanwhile, after thermal constraints kick in, the lowest score drops to 5,184 for the iPhone Duo and 3,626 for the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The numbers might sound confusing, but a higher stability score is better, and the loop score shows how the phone changed performance over time. In the end, the iPhone Duo wins in all three tests.

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Engineering difference

Why did things end up this way? The Z Fold 8 relies on relatively basic thermal management materials rather than the vapor chamber setup seen on the iPhone Duo. Because of this, heat generated by the processor appears to be trapped near the top of the phone on the Z Fold 8.

Despite remaining cooler on the outside, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lost a greater proportion of its performance over the course of the stress test. This shows that the iPhone Duo is better at sustaining performance, although this is a synthetic benchmark, so results can vary based on what task is pushing the phones.

Still, the iPhone Duo pulls heat directly off the processor and pushes it outward across the body and display. Because of this, the device feels noticeably warmer across its exterior surface. However, by successfully dumping that heat away from the core, it keeps the internal processor dramatically cooler.

This also explains the internal sensor data captured by 3DMark during the stress test. The Samsung phone's core climbed from 95°F to a hot 113°F internally.

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Bottom line

The lesson is simple: think of the iPhone Duo like a NASCAR stock car with an advanced cooling system. When the engine is pushed hard, the cooling system moves heat away from the processor and spreads it across a larger area of the phone's body. That can make the exterior warmer to the touch, but it also helps the processor sustain high performance for longer without thermal throttling.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is different. Under sustained, demanding workloads, its cooling limitations can cause performance to drop as the processor reduces power to control temperatures. The phone may feel cooler in some situations, but a cooler exterior alone doesn't tell you how effectively heat is being managed internally.

What does this mean for you? If you're a mobile gamer, sustained performance matters more. During 20–30 minutes of demanding gameplay, a phone with better thermal management can maintain higher frame rates and deliver more consistent gameplay. On the other side of things, a phone that gets hot around the CPU, throttles more aggressively may experience lower frame rates or occasional stuttering.

At least from my tests, there’s no doubt about it. The iPhone Duo wins. Its cooling design gives it a promising advantage for gaming and sustained performance, compared to how it performs to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in our same test conditions.

More from Tom's Guide

• My iPhone 18 Pro Max just got delivered and I immediately regret the purchase — and I think iPhone Duo is to blame
• I've waited 5 years for the iPhone Duo — here are 7 reasons I decided not to pre-order
• iPhone Duo modes explained — 6 ways you can use Apple's new foldable

Apple's long-awaited foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, came out this week, and already the cracks are starting to show. And I mean that literally: Some iPhone Duo early adopters are already running into issues that cause the display to crack along the entire hinge. Photos shared on Reddit show the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking from top to bottom alongside the hinge — exactly where the device folds — less than 24 hours after launch.

It’s still not entirely clear what’s causing the issue, but photos of cracked iPhone Duo displays circulating on social media show a consistent pattern. A large crack appears on the inner display along the hinge, causing a pixel issue that produces a bright white line down the right-hand side of the screen. Early iPhone Duo adopters from the U.S. to China and Australia are seeing the same issue crop up, so it doesn't appear limited to any specific market.

After about six hours of use, one Reddit user in Australia said they "heard an audible crack, and the screen broke right along the hinge." They estimated they'd probably opened it less than 20 times so far. At first, Apple offered an express replacement over the phone, with the stipulation that the customer would have to place a hold for the full cost of the handset. Apple also couldn't provide an estimated arrival date for the replacement. Rather than wait, they went to an Apple Store in person, where staff "apologized and replaced it with a brand-new one on the spot," suggesting Apple may have replacement iPhone Duo units available in-store to handle early hardware failures.

iPhone Duo fails durability tests

Early durability tests show the inner display's crease at the hinge becomes more visible the more users fold and unfold the device, something they are want to do considering that's kinda the biggest selling point for Apple's $2,000 handset. YouTuber JerryRigEverything put Apple's foldable phone through its paces in his latest durability test video, and the iPhone Duo failed miserably.

Despite its IP68 rating for dust resistance, dust made its way into the hinge through multiple entry points, overpowering the magnets designed to keep the phone closed. A subsequent bend test resulted in a permanent green line across the inner display, which eventually stopped responding altogether.

The outer display, protected by Ceramic Shield 2, resisted scratches until level 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. The inner screen, however, showed scratches at level 2 with deeper grooves at a level fingernail. Its matte nano-texture coating did offer one clever trick, making marks seemingly "magically disappear," but that wasn't enough to save the phone from failing the durability test.

"I've been testing these folding phones since the first generation seven years ago – most do survive," said Zack Nelson. "The iPhone Duo did not."

With so many people getting their hands on the iPhone Duo this week, some defective units are to be expected. However, it's unclear how widespread the issue is or whether we'll see more reports of hinge failures trickle in over time. Any problems resulting from normal use should be covered by Apple's one-year warranty, and there's also a 14-day window to return your iPhone Duo if need be.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been testing dozens of iPhone Duo apps — here’s my top 15 picks so far
• 7 ways the iPhone Duo already beats the Galaxy Z Fold 8
• iPhone Duo zoom test — do you really need a telephoto lens?