Most people who have had hands-on time with the iPhone Duo claim that you have to look really hard to spot the crease. That's thanks to the matte display, or as Apple calls it, its premium nano-texture finish. But there's a trade-off here that most buyers will only notice once they start using the device.
You can't have it all
Matte displays have an anti-glare surface that scatters light to reduce reflections. On the Duo, this trick minimizes the appearance of the crease and keeps finger smudges at bay.
The downside is that the anti-glare coating makes the screen less vibrant than a glossy panel. And it's not just about the aesthetics alone, as the layer can also make the display look grainy and hazy, impacting its clarity.
Leaker Ice Universe believes this is going to make some users very unhappy.
What might hold you back from getting the Duo?
24 Votes
What's happening
A matte surface doesn't just spread out external light. It also diffuses the light coming out of the pixels. Not everyone will care, as many matte display users tend not to notice the color and quality loss that has others so worked up.
I recently bought a Samsung Odyssey G6 OLED monitor that I found at a great price. I was starting to regret my purchase when I saw many people mentioning that you lose a lot of quality and color with a matte screen. However, to my surprise, that’s not the case—or at least I haven’t noticed it.
Darkkingn7, Reddit user, 2024
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However, since iPhone owners are used to glossy screens, it remains to be seen how the broader market will react.
The reaction to the iPhone Duo has mostly been positive:
While minimal, the iPhone Duo still has a crease, but it's only noticeable at certain angles.
On most foldables, the crease only gets worse over time. Apple appears to have sacrificed screen clarity for something most users won't even notice, or will have to live with anyway.
A matter of preference
The iPhone Duo's matte display might also not go well with the Apple Pencil. | Image by DreamStitcher
While the common perception is that a matte display makes finer details like small text and tiny interface elements look a bit soft, many people prefer it for superior reflection handling and ease of cleaning.
The iPad Pro features a nano-texture display, and while there haven't been widespread complaints, it certainly has its critics. Some complain about the reduced sharpness. There are also concerns that it doesn't hold up well to regular Apple Pencil use.
I regretted it and traded up to a glossy m5 only cause I couldn’t stand it anymore. I work in a brightly lit space as an artist and use the pencil maybe forty hours a week. So, I thought it would be perfect for me but the reduced sharpness especially for text and the minor parallax effect really began to bother me after some time.
Thewtfpanda, Reddit user, January 2026
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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