While the iPhone Duo has yet to become publicly available, the initial reaction towards it appears to be mostly positive ever since it was showcased in the recently held Apple event. However, Nothing's CEO Carl Pei has a completely different stance on Apple's first foldable. According to him, the iPhone Duo is a waste of money.
It doesn't feature Face ID
Apple introduced Face ID with the iPhone X and has offered it in all its smartphones that have been released since then. However, it is not present in the iPhone Duo, and Carl cites this as the first reason why he believes that the device is a waste of money. He mentions in his latest video that a device that costs $1999 should be compatible with Face ID.
While it is not officially confirmed by Apple, it is widely believed that there are two main reasons why the iPhone Duo doesn't feature Face ID. The device is just 5.2 mm thick when unfolded, and this ultra-slim profile makes it physically hard to install the TrueDepth system needed for Apple's Face ID to function. The second and probably the main reason is the complexity created due to the dual screen.
Since the whole concept of the foldable is that it can be used both open or closed, Apple would theoretically have had to offer two Face ID sensors, one for the inner display and the other for the outer. Doing this would have meant compromising the thickness of the smartphone.
Do you also think that the iPhone Duo doesn't justify it's price tag?
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Camera compromises in the iPhone Duo
In addition to the lack of Face ID, the trade-offs you get in the camera department of the iPhone Duo are another reason why Carl Pei believes that the device isn't worth its $1,999 price tag. For reference, the foldable comes with a 12 MP shooter in the front, which is a downgrade compared to the 18 MP selfie camera you get in the $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro. The device also doesn't feature a LiDAR scanner, which could turn out to be really helpful for nighttime photography.
There are compromises on the software side as well. Unlike the iPhone 18 Pro phones, the iPhone Duo doesn't come with the new Pro controls like the ability to adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and more. Above all, the biggest letdown is the unavailability of a dedicated telephoto camera in the foldable, which Carl also mentions in his video.
Face ID and telephoto lens are Apple's top priority
Apple is apparently aware that Face ID and a dedicated telephoto lens are the two main things users will miss the most in the iPhone Duo. That's why it is reportedly working on introducing both in its future foldables. According to a very highly trusted tipster, Mark Gurman, both these hardware additions are currently a priority for future iPhone Duo models.
However, the possibility of them coming in the iPhone Duo 2 seems less likely. Gurman mentions in his newsletter that the third generation of the iPhone Duo might feature both a telephoto lens and Face ID.
There's a demand for Face ID
Posts and comments on online community forums like Reddit also suggest that Face ID is one of the main things users are going to miss in the iPhone Duo. A user made a post mentioning the unavailability of Face ID as a concerning part of the Apple foldable. Another user commented that they really like how fast and convenient Face ID is on Apple devices, and they are really going to miss it in the foldable.
Comment about Face ID in the iPhone Duo. | Image by Reddit
That said, fans have a unique idea that I also believe Apple should adopt in its next foldable. It's basically giving Touch ID for the outer display and Face ID for the inner display. This way, the company wouldn't have to worry about how it would fit two Face ID sensors in the device.
There are definitely plenty of positives
The unavailability of Face ID, the telephoto lens, and other camera compromises are definitely things that go against the iPhone Duo, which costs almost $2000. However, we should also not forget its positives. For instance, it comes with a superior build quality, an almost invisible crease, support for a 120 Hz ProMotion always-on refresh rate, a powerful A20 Pro chipset, and it is also compatible with the USB-C Apple Pencil.
I, personally, believe Apple has launched a pretty great first foldable, at least looking at its specifications on paper. The lack of Face ID is one thing that is surely not going to bother me personally, as I have always preferred a fingerprint scanner, as they are faster and, most importantly, don't fail to work if I am wearing sunglasses or a scarf. The telephoto lens is surely the thing I will miss the most, especially knowing that it is available in some of the iPhone Duo's competitors, like the Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
Anyway, you won't have to wait much longer for the iPhone Duo, as pre-orders for the device start on 16th October, and it will go live on 23rd October.
Don't forget to check out these interesting iPhone Duo stories:
Aman Kumar is a news writer at PhoneArena covering Google Pixel phones, Android features, AI-powered smartphone tools, and mobile tech news. Before joining PhoneArena, he spent over five years writing about consumer technology for publications like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Guiding Tech. His current daily drivers are the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, while his red iPhone SE (2nd gen) remains a personal favorite. Aman also appreciates bold smartphone experiments and still considers the Nokia N-Gage one of the industry’s most iconic designs.
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