iPhone Duo Review: Hidden Features, App Compatibility Issues, and MagSafe Charging Problems

Apple's first foldable smartphone is finally reaching reviewers, and their early impressions are revealing details that were not part of the initial announcement. While the iPhone Duo offers the expected combination of a compact outer display and a larger folding screen, Apple has also introduced several software features designed specifically for its unusual form factor.

From improved video calls to hands-free photography, these additions show how Apple is adapting iOS for a foldable device. However, early reviews also highlight a few drawbacks, including third-party apps that do not properly use the inner display and MagSafe chargers that may struggle to keep the unfolded phone stable.

iPhone Duo Introduces Exclusive Features for Its Foldable Display

Apple officially unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9, marking its entry into the foldable smartphone market. Although general availability is scheduled for October 23, selected reviewers have already had the opportunity to explore the device.

Their findings suggest that the iPhone Duo is more than a conventional iPhone with a folding screen. Apple has adapted several existing features and introduced new capabilities to make better use of the larger display.

Edge Light Makes FaceTime Calls More Convenient

One of the more interesting discoveries is Edge Light, a feature that uses the outer edges of the iPhone Duo's inner display to provide additional illumination during FaceTime video calls.

When the phone is unfolded, the display can create a ring-light-style effect around the edges, helping illuminate the user's face during a call. This could be particularly useful in dim rooms or when making video calls at night.

Edge Light previously appeared on compatible Macs running macOS Tahoe 26.2. Its arrival on the iPhone Duo makes the foldable Apple's first iPhone to support the feature.

While it is not a major hardware upgrade, Edge Light is a practical example of Apple using the display itself to improve an everyday activity. Users can get additional lighting without carrying a separate accessory.

Reachability Gets a New Approach for the Larger Screen

The iPhone Duo's unfolded display is similar in size to the iPad mini, which creates a familiar challenge: reaching interface elements positioned near the edges of a large screen.

Apple appears to have adapted Reachability to address this issue. Traditionally, the accessibility feature shifts content toward the lower portion of the screen, making controls at the top easier to reach with one hand.

On the iPhone Duo, the feature is expected to work horizontally. A swipe toward the left or right edge could shift part of the interface in that direction, bringing otherwise difficult-to-reach controls closer to the user's thumb.

According to Wired, Apple indicated that the feature would arrive later in the year. Its availability and exact behavior will depend on the software rollout.

If implemented as described, horizontal Reachability could make the iPhone Duo more comfortable to use when unfolded, especially for people who prefer interacting with their phones using one hand.

Smart Take Makes Group Photography Easier

The iPhone Duo also introduces Smart Take, a photography feature designed to simplify taking group pictures.

Apple says the phone can recognize when everyone is ready and capture the photo automatically. This reduces the need to set a timer, rush into position, or ask someone else to operate the camera.

Another useful option is the ability to use the outer display as a live viewfinder. This lets people see the camera preview while taking photos, which could be helpful for group shots, selfies, and other situations where framing everyone correctly matters.

These features demonstrate how a foldable design can offer more than extra screen space. By making both displays useful in different situations, Apple can create photography experiences that would be less convenient on a conventional smartphone.

Apple Pencil Support Is Coming to the iPhone Duo

Another notable addition is Apple Pencil support, which is expected to arrive with iOS 27.2. The feature is already available in the release candidate version of the software, suggesting that its public release is approaching.

Pencil compatibility could give users another way to interact with the larger inner display. Depending on the supported apps and available functionality, it may be useful for handwriting, annotations, sketches, and other precision-based tasks.

This could make the iPhone Duo more versatile for users who want to do more than browse, message, or watch videos on the unfolded screen.

However, the full experience will depend on how Apple implements support and whether third-party developers update their apps to take advantage of it.

Managing Files When Switching to a New iPhone

A new device often comes with a separate challenge: bringing your existing digital content along. Photos, videos, documents, and other personal files may be spread across your old phone, making the transition more time-consuming than expected.

Smart Transfer can help simplify this process by supporting file transfers between compatible devices. If you're moving to the iPhone Duo, an iPhone app transfer workflow may involve transferring supported files separately from reinstalling apps or signing back into accounts. App data and settings may require their own migration methods, depending on the platforms and apps involved.

For users who need iOS file sharing, Smart Transfer can also help move supported content between compatible devices, subject to the available transfer options. Before upgrading, it is worth checking which files you need to keep and which apps offer their own backup or migration features. If your goal is to copy my phone data, you can explore Smart Transfer on the App Store and check whether its supported transfer options meet your needs.

iPhone Duo Problems: Third-Party Apps Still Need Optimization

Despite its exclusive features, the iPhone Duo has some software limitations. One of the most noticeable issues is that many third-party apps have not yet been optimized for the foldable's inner display.

Some Apps Leave Large Black Bars on the Inner Display

Early reviews have found that certain apps occupy only the central portion of the unfolded screen, leaving large black areas along the left and right sides.

This happens because apps need to support the device's display dimensions and layout behavior to use the available space effectively. If developers have not updated their interfaces, the apps may continue to behave as though they are running on a conventional iPhone screen.

Slack is among the apps reported to have addressed the issue, but many others still need improvements.

The good news is that software compatibility can improve through app updates. As developers gain access to the device and adapt their interfaces, more apps should be able to take advantage of the larger display.

Until then, users may encounter inconsistent experiences when switching between Apple's built-in apps and third-party alternatives.

MagSafe Chargers May Struggle When the iPhone Duo Is Unfolded

Unlike app compatibility, the reported MagSafe issue is related to the device's physical design.

Some reviewers, including Arun Maini, have observed that desktop MagSafe chargers can cause the unfolded iPhone Duo to tilt or rotate. The device's size and weight distribution may make it harder to keep stable when attached to certain charging stands.

This could be inconvenient for people who like to keep their phone unfolded on a desk while charging. A stable setup is particularly important when using the inner display for video calls, viewing content, or working with apps.

There is an important distinction, however: MagSafe charging is optional. The iPhone Duo can also charge through its USB-C port, so users are not dependent on a magnetic charger.

Anyone planning to use a desktop charging stand may want to check its compatibility and stability with the unfolded device before relying on it as their primary charging solution.

Is the iPhone Duo Worth Considering?

The iPhone Duo offers several features that make its foldable design more useful. Edge Light adds convenience to video calls, Smart Take simplifies group photography, and the adapted Reachability experience could make the larger screen easier to navigate. Upcoming Apple Pencil support may also expand the device's appeal.

However, the early experience is not entirely seamless. Third-party apps still need to catch up with the foldable's display, and some MagSafe charging setups may not provide the stability users expect.

These limitations do not necessarily undermine the device's potential, but they are worth considering before making a purchase. Buyers should think about how often they will use the inner display, whether their essential apps are optimized, and how they prefer to charge their phones.

Final Thoughts

The iPhone Duo's early reviews reveal a device with several thoughtful software additions, alongside a few issues that Apple and third-party developers still need to address.

Features such as Edge Light, Smart Take, and horizontal Reachability show that Apple is adapting familiar iPhone experiences to a foldable design rather than simply making the screen larger. Apple Pencil support could add even more flexibility in a future software update.

For now, the biggest questions concern app optimization and everyday hardware usability. As more apps receive updates and users spend more time with the device, it should become clearer how well Apple's first foldable fits into daily life.