Apple has officially unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, according to reporting by Niklas Plikk at Tek.no. The device introduces a distinct departure from traditional smartphone designs through its form factor, asymmetric body, and a starting price of 25 990 Norwegian Krone for the 256 GB base model.
Display Engineering and the Crease Factor
According to Tek.no, the iPhone Duo features a specialized Nano-coating applied to its inner display. Reviewers note that this coating makes the physical fold virtually invisible during actual use, providing a smooth tactile experience despite minor surface undulations detectable only by touch. When compared directly with competing foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Apple’s screen housing achieves a visibly minimized crease footprint.
Ergonomics and Left-Handed Usability Challenges
Design choices on the new hardware favor right-handed users, as observed during hands-on testing by Tek.no. The chassis features an asymmetric layout housing all physical and digital buttons exclusively on the right side. Testers reported an inability to locate accessibility settings capable of migrating primary navigation menus to the left, which creates notable usability hurdles for left-handed operators.
Pro Tip: Single-handed operation when the device is closed remains surprisingly manageable. Although the chassis is wider than a standard iPhone, its reduced vertical height allows thumbs to reach most interface elements comfortably, according to Tek.no.
Security Architecture: Touch ID Replaces Face ID
Biometric authentication on the iPhone Duo relies entirely on Touch ID integrated directly into the side power button, abandoning Face ID entirely. Apple justifies this architectural shift by aiming to deliver a uniform unlock experience regardless of whether the folding display is open or shut. However, Tek.no points out that users locking and unlocking the device primarily while closed would benefit significantly from facial recognition capabilities.
Pricing Tiers and Storage Configurations
Market pricing for the iPhone Duo scales rapidly across storage tiers, according to launch data published by Tek.no:
- 256GB Model: 25 990 kroner
- 512GB Model: 29 990 kroner
- Maximum Storage Configuration: Bikker prisen 40.000 kroner
Did You Know? Despite running a heavily modified version of iOS—designated internally as iOS 27—the iPhone Duo does not support external monitor functionality like Apple’s iPadOS Sidecar feature, based on system menu evaluations by Tek.no.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the iPhone Duo cost in Norway?
The base 256 GB model starts at 25 990 kroner, while the 512 GB version retails for 29 990 kroner, scaling past 40.000 kroner for top storage variants according to Tek.no.
Does the iPhone Duo feature Face ID?
No. Apple has implemented Touch ID within the physical side button instead of Face ID to maintain a consistent authentication method across folded and unfolded states, as reported by Tek.no.
Can the inner screen crease be seen during use?
According to hands-on testing by Tek.no, Apple’s specialized Nano-coating renders the screen crease virtually invisible during active operation, though a slight ripple can still be felt by touch.
Is there a standard iPhone 18 available alongside the Duo?
Apple limited its current hardware rollout to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, omitting a base iPhone 18 from the initial launch lineup according to Tek.no.