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iPhone Duo Justifying the iPhone Duo

ChantyBinx

ChantyBinx

macrumors newbie
Original poster
I'm sure many of you are doing the same right now. Or have decided that you can't justify it. Some people have the cash to burn and I salute them for it being a done deal to buy one.

I have a MB Air M4 32GB / 2TB and a 1TB iPad Pro. fairly decent specs bought last year. and an iPhone Air.

I'd like to replace all three with the Duo given my computing needs have become so light. When at college I was going to do a programming career / side hustle hence the Air spec being the best I could get. We do have a family iMac M4 base model which isn't going anywhere so I have access to a Mac if and when needed.

Dreamt and lusted over a device like this from Apple for years. It's not a new idea for me. But now it is possible

It nearly feels backwards to NOT buy it.

I am seriously contemplating consolidating three devices into one.

If you're in the same boat.. what are you goals of the Duo. At its price it must do some serious lifting win my digital life, is that the same for you and what are your needs and expectations from it?
 
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Not sure exactly to what extent the Duo would replace my other devices. But I feel like this thing is more than the sum of its parts somehow. For example, leave it to Apple to really make the most of all these new tricks made available in a foldable. I can't wait to play around with it. I've been dying to get an iPad Mini OLED, and I definitely need a new iPhone...the Duo will cost more than what I was going to pay for those two separate devices, but I'm willing to accept a pure "pleasure tax" so to speak. This is the biggest iPhone upgrade ever and I just want one, end of.

One thing though in terms of how well it can replace other devices - I LOVE that the Duo will be Pencil compatible. That's going to make it my preferred device for lots of stuff I currently use my iPad Pro 12" for. Not all of it of course, given how much smaller the display is, but stuff like note taking on the go, mindmapping, adding notes to photos and PDF:s, sketches of all kinds including music scoring, hand drawn calendars etc - I can see myself switching over to the Duo for.
 
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Get, use it for 5 days. If it’s not for you, return it.
I’m trying a one year lease.
If it wears poorly, back it goes.
If there is a better 2.0 version, back it goes.
If I’m still happy I’ll extend the lease another six months, revisit the questions or buy it outright.
 
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noteple said:
Get, use it for 5 days. If it’s not for you, return it.
I’m trying a one year lease.
If it wears poorly, back it goes.
If there is a better 2.0 version, back it goes.
If I’m still happy I’ll extend the lease another six months, revisit the questions or buy it outright.
Click to expand...
That’s a very good point. Apple have that 14 day window don’t they?

I suppose I could try it … return it and at least then my M4 Air is still here.

Pretty sure I’m happy to ditch the iPad Pro. Beautiful device but charging, remembering, waiting for sync or picking it up over the Mac or iPhone is already weak. Duo or not.

You’re helping me form expensive ideas @notepie lol
 
I am in the camp that will just get it on launch but I would want to warn you from my past experiences with foldables over a few years. I don’t think you will be happy replacing all those devices with one foldable, the screen is limited if that is the only screen you have.

I use my iPad Pro 13” always docked with the keyboard instead of a laptop and the Duo wont be able to replace that device, it will replace my phone and iPad Mini though. I tried replacing my laptop/large iPad with a foldable before and it didn’t work long term.
 
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I thought about it and love some of the features like being able to use front and back screens for FaceTime etc. I thought I could trade in my M4 Pro and my iPhone Air and have an all-in-one device, but I’ve changed my mind.

It’s immediately double the thickness of my phone in my pocket. One-handed use looks almost impossible when it’s closed, because of the width. When open, it doesn’t match the iPad for capability or size.

I think the main thing I’d enjoy regularly is the split screen stuff, and I’d like to see more of that come to the regular iPhone (I say “more” because the floating video widget and being able to reply to text messages from the notification overlay while keeping the open app below are in the ballpark of this functionality).

Ultimately it’s not far off what I paid for my M1 iMac in 2022, and that really gives me pause for a phone.
 
ofarlig said:
I am in the camp that will just get it on launch but I would want to warn you from my past experiences with foldables over a few years. I don’t think you will be happy replacing all those devices with one foldable, the screen is limited if that is the only screen you have.

I use my iPad Pro 13” always docked with the keyboard instead of a laptop and the Duo wont be able to replace that device, it will replace my phone and iPad Mini though. I tried replacing my laptop/large iPad with a foldable before and it didn’t work long term.
Click to expand...
I briefly had a Fold 8 1TB last month and I did weasel out and got lucky as the mother in law was a Samsung die hard who didn’t get approved for a Fold 8 so she’s taken over the 0% payments!

The device and form factor itself was phenomenal. My whole house and immediate family being so deep in the Apple ecosystem was really the only drag. Sometimes, truth be told, I do miss it. But I knew to wait until Apple did its version.

I got an M4 11” iPad last summer and the Keyboard Dock too - and it’s amazing. But.. that being said it’s a secondary expensive device (a 1TB) but the weight and whole ‘laptop’ setup was the drag as I started to realise I was putting up with compromises of iPad OS, needing a keyboard a lot of the time to do much productivity work. I still have that iPad though I’m fixed to sell it soon. It truly is the idea of consolidating as much as I can into one.

I do have the iMac at home - I suppose for truly heavy duty work there’ll be that and of course, all in sync with iCloud unlike with that Fold.

Though yes… I know it’ll have its limitations. It’s still iOS - lesser than iPad OS for all we know with only a fraction of the dual app stuff. Maybe like 2017 iPad OS.

I think I might get it for the 14 day try window with Apple.

Really push the thing. I have a Logitech keys 2 go 2 and that’s a great little keyboard. Used that with my Fold 8 and it was sublime together in a backpack. It gave me that feeling I used to get with the iPad of ‘drop it in the backpack and go’.

That’s the feeling I’m chasing - that I can sit anywhere and not feel I’m missing my iPad , laptop , desktop etc for 90% of my time away from work. Then for the small times, the iMac.

Hell, if I could remote into said iMac… from the inner panel. Alright I’m getting carried away now
 
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I love the Duo. I really want one.

But I thought the same of the iPhone Air. And I did get one. It lasted six months before I traded it in for the 17PM. It was so beautiful but the limitations became unbearable.

The Duo looks like a fantastic iPad. I’m just not yet convinced it’s a fantastic iPhone.

The only way I could afford it is by selling my 17PM and my iPad mini. And still I’d have to throw about £800 at it. I don’t think that trade makes sense.
 
No. Not interested in the Duo, but that is beside the point.

If there is something I decide that I want, I don't need to justify anything. The only thing stopping me are finances. When those line up, I get it.

As I have said many times here before, if I justified every purchase I make in my life, I would only own what I need and never own anything I wanted. Most of the time, what I want more than meets any need that I may have.
 
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ChantyBinx said:
That’s a very good point. Apple have that 14 day window don’t they?

I suppose I could try it … return it and at least then my M4 Air is still here.

Pretty sure I’m happy to ditch the iPad Pro. Beautiful device but charging, remembering, waiting for sync or picking it up over the Mac or iPhone is already weak. Duo or not.

You’re helping me form expensive ideas @notepie lol
Click to expand...
I have the Z Fold8 which has a similar footprint to this phone. This is the first time in years that I was actually eager to pick the phone up and play with it. It was the first foldable where I actually opened it up with purpose, whereas in the past, my foldable phones just became a bulky slab that I never really unfolded anymore. Unlink the iPhone Air for example, I don’t think the iPhone Duo is something you’ll get sick of or have too many pain points to get past, there experience on the Duo blows away the Samsung approach. You’ll keep it and not miss the same old same old you have always used is my guess. Oh, and I am getting the Duo also. I just liked my Z Fold8 so much that I missed my return window.
 
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I can easily justify it for myself. This would have been a very ideal device for me ten years ago when I was using my iPhone 7 Plus as my only computer (with a Bluetooth keyboard). My iPad Pro is now my main computer, but I can’t really see why I couldn't use the Duo now as my only mobile device. Complement it with a home desktop.

I just don’t need a new phone or tablet right now, but may consider it in the future. I’ll wait for them work out the kinks in the first couple generations of it.
 
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ChantyBinx said:
I'm sure many of you are doing the same right now. Or have decided that you can't justify it. Some people have the cash to burn and I salute them for it being a done deal to buy one.

I have a MB Air M4 32GB / 2TB and a 1TB iPad Pro. fairly decent specs bought last year. and an iPhone Air.

I'd like to replace all three with the Duo given my computing needs have become so light. When at college I was going to do a programming career / side hustle hence the Air spec being the best I could get. We do have a family iMac M4 base model which isn't going anywhere so I have access to a Mac if and when needed.

Dreamt and lusted over a device like this from Apple for years. It's not a new idea for me. But now it is possible

It nearly feels backwards to NOT buy it.

I am seriously contemplating consolidating three devices into one.

If you're in the same boat.. what are you goals of the Duo. At its price it must do some serious lifting win my digital life, is that the same for you and what are your needs and expectations from it?
Click to expand...
Can you really use a small device on the duo to consolidate all of your devices? I guess if your workflow can handle it.

It doesn't sound appealing to me, I love my air. If anything I would love a bigger screen MB pro/ultra, $3k laptop. I just need the screen re-estate I don't need the processor speed. My 15 MBA is fine processor wise.

I couldn't run my side business on the DUO, or my main job.
 
1rottenapple said:
Can you really use a small device on the duo to consolidate all of your devices? I guess if your workflow can handle it.

It doesn't sound appealing to me, I love my air. If anything I would love a bigger screen MB pro/ultra, $3k laptop. I just need the screen re-estate I don't need the processor speed. My 15 MBA is fine processor wise.

I couldn't run my side business on the DUO, or my main job.
Click to expand...
Outside of work in personal life I don’t really use any heavy duty desktop apps. I’m trying to be more present, do a bit more reading with my free time away from my family and friends, and when I’m with them less being totally captivated in games or things - if that doesn’t sound too crazy.

I suppose my iPhone Air does that fine rightly. Even with a keyboard for replies like this or journaling.

More of a nice to have.

What I am seeing from yesterday is that perhaps the iPhone Duo doesn’t allow quite as free ‘multitasking’ as the Fold 8 with its potential to arrange windows. But what I can also say from experience … it’s a bit finicky getting window sizes right and then mobile apps to adapt to usable states. Hmm

A lot to think about
 
being a fold user, I can say this with confidence. If you are interested in pocketable ipad mini, than Duo is right for you. That means, you want to be mobile/not carry any backpack on the go, want to use ipad mini style device for reading & contents consuming, then Duo is your perfect machine.

However, as soon as you venture into more serious tablet usage, a foldable phone is not good. You better have a dedicated machine, like a real tablet with pencil, a laptop, etc.

I treat my Fold8 ultra as a work phone that can turn into mini tablet on the go. For this, my device is perfect. I don't have to carry any backpack or sling. I just put my iphone on the pocket and either hand carry or back pocket carry the fold. Whenever I sit down/hit a cafe, I open up the foldable & enjoy it like I have a mini tablet.

If I need to go beyond just contents consumption / want to have a prolonged cafe time, I always carry a backpack + ipad pro or Macbook. I don't think Duo is much different from my Fold in this regard.
 
I have an iPhone 17 Pro Max and an 11-inch iPad Pro (M5).

I'm impressed with the Duo, but for it to work for me personally, it would need to be able to replace one or both.

On the tablet side - I like to do digital illustration, and so the Duo isn't going to be anywhere near as good as my iPad for that (even with Apple Pencil support). That's fine, the Duo isn't being advertised as a drawing device. However, my iPad also has 1 TB storage and to get a Duo with the same amount would be a massive expense.

On the phone side - I'd miss FaceID a lot, but mostly, I just can't drop the telephoto zoom lens. I use it all the time on my iPhone 17 Pro Max, especially when travelling or at concerts.

If the Duo had the same camera system as the iPhone 17 Pro, I'd be willing to try it, even though I know there'd be some overlap with the iPad that I'd still want to keep. But currently, either way I look there's a compromise I don't want to make!
 
It's a first gen - I really like the look of the duo, but I've also had pro max phones for the last umpteen years.
I only use my mini when at home on the settee or in bed.
One device, sure it would be nice, but I'm going to wait until the 3rd gen probably (given that I upgrade every 2 years).
Plus my 16PM is sold when I get the new one, and I don't like waiting 🙂
So, 18PM for me this year, see what happens over the next few years.

Off to look at the 4 colours now to decide ready for Saturday.

I bet you keep it if you try it @ChantyBinx 😀
 
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