iPhone Duo's outer screen is 15% too small because of its permanent dock
The fixed dock on the new foldable reduces the usable area of its 5.4-inch display, creating a usability gap compared to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Apple has released the iPhone Duo, a wide foldable smartphone that includes a fixed sidebar on its outer display. This design choice permanently occupies 15 percent of the 5.4-inch screen. The sidebar sits on the right side of the device and is intended to simplify navigation for users.
The fixed dock creates a large unused area on the small display. Allison Johnson of The Verge noted that the iPhone Duo feels harder to use with one hand than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. The Z Fold 8 has a taller and narrower body, which allows its cover screen to be more easily navigable. This difference in physical shape affects how users interact with the outer screens of both devices.
The iPhone Duo uses the sidebar to shrink the available screen space. This approach stretches media content to appear taller, similar to a standard slab phone. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 leaves the screen space free for main content. Johnson observed that the Z Fold 8 works well with this open layout, especially when using navigation gestures.
The software on the iPhone Duo is Apple's first attempt at a wide foldable form factor. While the hardware appears promising, the iOS implementation leaves room for improvement. Samsung has refined Android for its foldables over several years, making the operating system friendlier for large screens. Apple's new software restricts the already small display of the iPhone Duo.
The iPhone Duo is available now, though its availability is currently limited. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 continues to perform well in the market. Users who prefer gesture navigation on the Z Fold 8 experience very little wasted screen space. The iPhone Duo's fixed sidebar remains a distinct difference between the two devices.
