iPhone Duo is Missing These 10 iPhone 18 Pro Features

[StoneJack]

Future lineup:

• iPhone Air
• iPhone Duo
• iPhone Pro

iPhone (base model) will be dropped.

• MacBook Neo
• MacBook Air
• MacBook Pro

• iPad Air
• iPad Pro

base models will exist

 

[Hajj.david]

The main use case for lidar is actually faster and more accurate focus control. It's also used to create a more accurate depth pass in the image pipeline for simulated depth of field and post capture focus control.

Idk man the iPhone 14 Pro Max that had the lidar was extremely frustrating to focus with. Shot looks perfect, press the button suddenly blurry mess. When I switched to the AIR my shots had much better and less annoying auto focus that would change randomly including after I shoot the shot.

 

[StoneJack]

The single camera on the Air is my biggest complain about the Air. I've very disappointed they went with an ultra wide instead of a telephoto on the Dou, but it's an upgrade to the Air's camera system either way. It would have been better if they just removed the inside camera(not needed) and just added a third camera on the outside, or just remove it and make it cheaper.

Macro probably does not fit the thinness parameters.

 

[MichaelAdam]

It’s also missing a studio quality microphones and because of the camera set up Spatial video / Photos … all those features even if Duo is the most tempting device since the launch of the iPhone, the iPad and the Apple Watch, are essential for me and especially at that price … exciting times ahead

 

[Ciaoiphone4]

Titanium is not a problem for heat dissipation on iPhone Duo... I don't see why Apple can't put it back on the iPhone Pro or propose a good aluminum like in the days of iPhone 7 or 8

 

[vhayda]

Lidar is the big one for me - I use the Measure app a few times per month...

 

[Dirty Mac]

I thought the pro's were 4x optical zoom and 8x software.

 

[code-m]

So features the vast majority of people don't actually need, outside of them thinking they are pro photographers and the mundane picture they take day to day need to be done with the highest quality camera possible.

Probably a better option if a 2-in-1 is not needed is an iPhone Pro and iPad mini (one updated).

 

[mikebenton]

Also missing: Apple Reference Image (Fusion Main)

 

[KPOM]

I have T-Mobile and am debating picking up a used iPhone 15 Pro or 16 Pro as a "handoff" device (the extra $5/mo annoys me) for when I want the better camera.

Google's Pixel Fold has a premium camera, but of course they made different design decisions (it's the "double phone" approach that Ternus criticized in the intro). Hopefully a future Duo will get the premium cameras.

 

[ralph_sws]

It’s a first-generation product. Apple was never going to cram every Pro feature into it on day one — both because some components simply may not fit in such an insanely thin chassis, and because Apple needs somewhere to take the Duo over the next few generations. You don’t blow the entire roadmap in Gen 1.

And the Duo isn’t really an iPhone 18 Pro with a hinge anyway. It’s a different product with different priorities: two displays, folding hardware, extreme thinness, battery, thermals and internal space all competing for the same millimeters. Telephoto, LiDAR, Face ID hardware and Pro camera features all cost space, power and complexity. Some omissions are engineering compromises; others are almost certainly product segmentation. Either way, comparing it feature-for-feature with the Pro misses the point.

 

[poorcody]

The only thing that stings is no action button. I only take my phone to bed so I can use the flashlight at night

If you don't use the Camera button, it can be repurposed to a shortcut to do anything.

 

[sfwalter]

For me personally, the cameras have been overkill for my needs for quite a few generations. I think the Duo cameras will be fine for me.

Also note you can reprogram the Camera button to run a Shortcut if you want to use it as an Action button.

Are you sure about this? If so how? I only see the ability to change which camera app to use.

 

[jwdawso]

iPhone Pro is missing these iPhone Duo features
Pocketable size
2 screens
Large screen
Thinness
2-App multitasking including drag and drop
Touch ID including Multi Touch ID fingers
2 FaceTime cameras including under screen
Built in night stand
Built in stand
2 batteries
Photo cue screen

The Apple media elite are brain washed! 😎

 

[Adamsal]

While the iPhone Duo is the first foldable iPhone ever and has some unique features like Duo FaceTime and forthcoming Apple Pencil support, the device lacks some other features available on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Below, we have listed 10 features that are missing on the iPhone Duo:

• A dedicated Telephoto camera with up to 8× optical zoom. Instead, the iPhone Duo's main 48-megapixel Fusion camera has "optical-quality" 2× zoom.
  
• Variable aperture for the main 48-megapixel Fusion camera, which provides greater control over depth of field in photos and videos.
  
• A higher-resolution 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera. On the iPhone Duo, this camera is 12 megapixels.
  
• Action button.
  
• Face ID. Instead, the iPhone Duo has a Touch ID button.
  
• LiDAR Scanner, which measures depth for augmented reality purposes.
  
• Other camera features: Pro controls in the Camera app, ProRAW, ProRes RAW, spatial photos and videos, and more.

You can pre-order the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max starting Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, ahead of a Friday, September 18 launch. iPhone Duo pre-orders begin Friday, October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, and the device will be released on Friday, October 23.

Article Link: iPhone Duo is Missing These 10 iPhone 18 Pro Features

After seeing the presentation, from a big No initially, I seriously thought about getting one, however only for 5 min, there are just too many compromises and what you're left with is a gimmick.

 

[sfwalter]

There's not going to be a Duo Pro. The Duo is the Duo , the Pro is the Pro. Two different types of phones that serve different needs.

I am trying figure out who the market is if it’s not for “pros”. Is it the doctors who buy Leica cameras?

 

[henryrodrigo]

So... iPhone Duo actually is an Ultra-Light Foldable iPad mini! 😛😂

 

[NetMage]

I thought the pro's were 4x optical zoom and 8x software.

No, they are 4x optical and 8x digital crop - it doesn’t really involve extra software, it trades resolution/quality for cropped view. Which is fine outdoors where you will mostly use it.