The iPhone Duo incorporates several features that have already appeared in foldable phones with Android over the past few years.
Appleadds compatibility with Apple Pencil, an under-display camera, AI tools for photos, and new multitasking options.
iPhone Duo
Apple Pencil on the internal screen of the iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo allows the use of the Apple Pencil on its 7.6-inch internal screen. This feature enables note-taking, drawing, or making annotations.
Samsung had already incorporated stylus support in the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Fold 4, Fold 5, and Fold 6. Motorola also offers stylus input on the Razr Fold.
A camera under the screen
The internal screen of the iPhone Duo has no notch, hole, or cutout for the camera. Apple placed the sensor beneath the panel.
A camera under the screen
Samsung used a similar solution between the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Fold 6, but abandoned it in the Fold 7. The main challenge was related to image quality.
AI for taking photos without pressing the button
The iPhone Duo incorporates Smart Take, a feature that uses AI on the device to detect when everyone is ready.
AI to take photos without pressing the button
The idea is similar to Magic Capture from Google. While Apple waits for the right moment, Google extracts 12 MP HDR photos from a video.
Kid Cue uses the external screen to grab attention
The Kid Cue feature plays Peanuts animations on the outer screen to help capture children's attention when taking their photo.
Google offers a similar tool called Made You Look on its Pixel foldables. It uses animations on the outer screen to attract the gaze of children and pets.
Google offers a similar tool called Made You Look in its Pixel foldables
Two windows of the same application
The iPhone Duo allows running two windows of the same application simultaneously. For example, it is possible to compare two Safari pages without constantly switching tabs.
It also allows using two applications side by side, opening Siri AI alongside other content, and saving pairs of applications for quick access to those combinations.
Two windows of the same application
Apple takes ideas that already worked on Android
The features of the iPhone Duo showcase several ideas that have already been developed by Samsung, Google, and Motorola.
The challenge for Apple will be to demonstrate whether it has improved those features after years of development and observation of Android foldables.
