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On October 22, the renowned tech self-media outlet, "Film and Television Hurricane," unveiled an in-depth evaluation video of Apple's inaugural foldable smartphone, the "iPhone Duo." After subjecting the device to extreme folding tests, freezing conditions at minus 20 degrees Celsius, and tens of thousands of folding cycles, Tim provided an unvarnished assessment of this innovative gadget.

Folding Mechanism and Screen: Hinge Excels, Screen Resembles "Paper"

In terms of durability testing, the iPhone Duo's hinge showcased exceptional resilience. After enduring 10,000 folds at room temperature and 1,000 folds at minus 20 degrees Celsius, the hinge maintained its smooth operation, albeit with a slightly deepened crease.

Comparative analysis revealed discernible differences in the crease between zero and 500 folds, though these discrepancies became less apparent when the screen was illuminated.

The team also conducted rigorous stress tests, including "reverse bending," concluding that the hardware's structural integrity is robust, alleviating concerns about accidental bending or breakage from sitting on the device.

Furthermore, the device boasts IP68 water resistance, surviving submersion in water for 30 minutes without sustaining any damage.

The screen features a unique nano-texture surface that mimics the feel of paper, offering strong anti-reflection properties. However, it is highly susceptible to fingerprints, which are challenging to remove.

Interaction and Hardware: Enhances Large-Screen Experience, Yet Leaves Room for Improvement

The iPhone Duo's inner screen is 50% larger than that of the 18 Pro Max, providing an immersive experience for reading books and comics. The hinge supports stepless adjustment, enabling it to function as an ultra-thin stand, significantly enhancing the experience for photography and time-lapse shooting.

In terms of typing, vertical typing proves to be the fastest and most accurate, while half-folded typing is the slowest. Only one side of the device supports access card swiping, and the posture for swiping when unfolded is somewhat awkward. Additionally, while its speaker quality does not match that of the 18 Pro, the sound is well-balanced with no axial bias.

However, there are hardware compromises: the inner screen lacks an earpiece, necessitating the device to be closed for calls. It also lacks Face ID, and fingerprint unlocking is even slower than on the iPad mini. The device only supports eSIM, with weaker 5G signal strength compared to the 18 Pro. Due to its unique structure, many phone cases, even official ones, require adhesive for attachment.

Moreover, there are two significant pain points in the user experience: firstly, it is extremely unfriendly to left-handed users. The toolbar, fingerprint unlock, and screen opening/closing buttons are all concentrated on the right side, making it nearly impossible for left-handed users to unlock and flip the screen with one hand. Secondly, there are ambiguities in hardware-software coordination. If the hinge is moved slowly during screen flipping, there is a chance the screen wallpaper layer may jump, or one side of the interface may flicker as if out of focus.

Performance and Battery Life: Impressive Battery, Weak GPU

Tim explained that real-world testing revealed the iPhone Duo's battery life to be impressively good, with more remaining battery after two hours of continuous video recording compared to the 18 Pro Max. However, during three hours of continuous 16:9 video viewing, the Duo consumed more power than a non-foldable phone, indicating that power consumption is strongly correlated with screen utilization.

Although the official system update optimized heating, with the highest observed temperature reaching 49 degrees Celsius and the device running about 2 degrees hotter when unfolded, it still becomes uncomfortably hot under high loads. Due to its foldable form factor, its GPU image processing performance is weaker than the 18 Pro series, and there is a significant temperature difference between the two sides when unfolded.

Software Adaptation: A Mixed Bag, Tencent Apps Lag Behind

Currently, the state of app adaptation for the iPhone Duo can be described as a mixed bag. While apps like iQiyi and Feishu offer a seamless large-screen experience, Tencent apps have not yet been adapted, resulting in large black borders.

Since iPad versions cannot be downloaded as a workaround, some photography apps even experience gyroscope confusion, leading to amusing issues. Apple has issued an ultimatum to all developers, requiring them to complete adaptation by April next year, meaning early adopters will have to endure a period of adjustment.

At the end of the video, Tim shared a nostalgic anecdote: in 2010, Steve Jobs believed foldable screen technology was still far from maturity. However, in 2011, Apple filed a patent for a foldable device, with one of the inventors being the current CEO, John Ternas.

Fifteen years later, across three CEOs, Apple's foldable product has finally made its debut.

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