IMAX, the theater production company, has reacted to the iPhone Duo with a savage comment. IMAX's official X account responded to a post wondering if we'll see more IMAX content on the iPhone Duo, saying, "love this for them... still not watching movies on a phone."
The iPhone Duo has a near-native IMAX aspect ratio
IMAX not watching a movie on a phone. Fair. | Image by X
The reason behind this rather cold comment from IMAX is the iPhone Duo's aspect ratio. The phone comes with a foldable screen featuring a 1.4:1 aspect ratio when unfolded. These proportions are almost identical to the classic full-frame IMAX 1.43:1 ratio.
This specific aspect ratio stems from the geometry of the original 15-perforation/70mm film format IMAX used originally.
Watching IMAX movies on the iPhone Duo
IMAX content looks much better on the iPhone Duo. | Image by MarkPraschan
Despite the slightly sarcastic comment from IMAX, watching 1.43:1 movies on the iPhone Duo could actually be a great experience.
iPhone Duo adds NOTHING over 17/18 Pro for widescreen content (at full screen). BUT multi-tasking and larger formats (like IMAX*) are a different story. *even if my new friends @IMAX don't recommend watching them on a phone which... fair
- @MarkPraschan, X
The difference is so minuscule that IMAX movies will fill the iPhone Duo's screen almost entirely, with just tiny black bars on the top and bottom. The original poster, @MarkPraschan, also shared some comparisons between an IMAX movie on the iPhone Duo versus the same format on an iPhone 17/18 Pro, and the difference is night and day.
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Would you watch IMAX movies on the iPhone Duo?
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iPhone Duo features Samsung's best OLED panel
The iPhone Duo's display is made by Samsung and it's one of the most expensive parts of the phone. | Image by Apple
Speaking of cinematic experiences, the iPhone Duo reportedly comes equipped with Samsung's latest and greatest M16 OLED material.
It allows for peak brightness up to 3,500 nits (even though Apple has apparently tuned the Duo to reach only 3,000 nits) and is much more energy-efficient.
Apple has signed a three-year deal with Samsung for sourcing flexible displays—not only for the iPhone Duo, but also for the next foldable models to come. This goes to show that Apple has a firm belief in the future of the iPhone Duo.
Would you watch an IMAX movie on a matte screen?
IMAX is great for big movie theaters, but what about matte screens? | Image by JoBlo Movie Network
The thing is, the iPhone Duo features a new, nano-texture screen coating. It's a matte finish that battles reflections and hides the crease quite well, but we don't know how good it will be for watching movies.
Normally, such a coating takes a lot of the contrast away, and video content tends to look washed out. We'll have to wait for the real-world tests, which are coming around October 23, when the iPhone Duo hits the stores.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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