Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 23 hrs ago
The iPhone Duo has a small cover screen, but it is not a small phone
The iPhone Duo is not a compact phone, despite having a 5.4-inch cover screen.
Its front panel is wider than the iPhone 13 Mini’s, and the Duo is also thick and heavy.
That makes it harder to reach across the screen and more noticeable in a pocket.
The wider format does provide a larger keyboard than the Mini.
The Duo’s tradeoff is a small outer screen paired with a much larger screen when opened, rather than the light, easy-to-carry feel of a small phone.
Apple plans to add its Reachability feature to the Duo later this year to make one-handed use easier.
Buyers who want a truly small, light phone may find the Duo disappointing, while those who want a big screen in a foldable phone may prefer its design.
The iPhone Duo’s 5.4-inch cover screen may resemble the size of the iPhone 13 Mini, but the Duo is thick and heavy.
The Verge reviewer Allison Johnson says the Duo is not a small phone that turns into a tablet.
Its front panel is 84.1mm wide, compared with 64.2mm for the iPhone 13 Mini, making it harder to use one-handed.
The Duo offers a larger keyboard and a much bigger screen when opened.
Johnson says buyers should expect a small-screen experience on the outside of a big phone, not a compact phone that expands.
- Who
- The Verge reviewer Allison Johnson assessed the iPhone Duo.
- What
- Johnson said the Duo is not a small phone despite its 5.4-inch cover screen. She described it as thick and heavy.
- When
- The Verge published the review on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The Duo’s cover screen is attached to a thick, heavy phone with a wider front panel than the iPhone 13 Mini.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Johnson said her iPhone 13 Mini felt almost comically light by comparison.
The Verge published Johnson’s assessment of the iPhone Duo.
- Cover screen
- 5.4 inches
- Duo front-panel width
- 84.1mm
- iPhone 13 Mini front-panel width
- 64.2mm
- Reviewer
- Allison Johnson of The Verge
What people are saying
The Duo is not the small phone we’ve been looking for.
I think you’ll be disappointed by the Duo if you expect a small phone that expands into an iPad Mini.