The iPhone Duo first impression

John Gruber, on Daring Fireball:

Comparing the multitasking UI on the Duo to the iPad is like comparing the Mac to Windows — one is insanely great, the other a dog wearing a necktie pretending to be a person. Apple should throw out iPadOS’s multitasking interface and switch to this one. Honestly, I’d prefer if they just threw out iPadOS and went back to running iOS — this new version of iOS created for the Duo — on iPads. The Duo flavour of iOS is a better tablet OS than iPadOS, Apple’s dedicated tablet OS.

I enjoyed reading John’s article very much. I think Duo’s unfolded mode is going to slowly eat into iPad mini sales. I see a possible future where Apple make larger iPhone Duo Pro which will eat into iPad Pro sales. Apple can’t afford to discontinue the iPad as a product. I dare to predict that we will buy less and less of them until Apple will have to stop making new ones. And I would be more excited if they cut the cord first, but it’s different times. It would be fun though, see history repeating itself with Apple stopping making iPod to put all their effort into iPhone.

I prefer using iPhone in one hand, and I have a problem with iPhone X form factor, even iPhone 6 form factor I think is a little bit too big for a comfortable grip. iPhone Duo is even wider than Pro Max. Surely, it’s going to be difficult to hold it. John is also not impressed with the new form factor.

The outer device is, by far, the worst iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s a miserable fat little thing.

I do agree that Face ID is a deal breaker, and Apple will add Face ID eventually when technology allows it. Another question for me was how this new form factor feels in my hands. I went to Covent Garden with only one question: can I use this design in one hand? Expecting it to be a huge compromise, I was surprised. I only had a few moments with the outer device, but my hope is that it can be used in one hand with security and comfort. Let me explain.

iPhone Duo is smaller than I expected it to be. It looks cute. Using the thumb, every part of the screen can be reached. From top to bottom. With a lot of practice, I can reach every part of the screen with my 17 Pro too. But I have to raise my 17 Pro in my palm to do it though. I have to use all my fingers to lift the device up and give my big thumb the ability to travel far. I dropped my 17 Pro because of this, at least once in a span of 5 months I have it. I caught it mid-air it more than once. iPhone Pro aspect ratio is more secure to hold with a 4-finger grip, but, because the form factor is so tall, you have to lose the grip completely for all 4 fingers in order to reach the top or bottom of the screen. With Duo you don’t have to. I was able to reach all the corners maintaining grip with my index finger and using a smoother¹ camera plateau for additional support. I regularly see some people using their pinky as a support, and I understand this. It’s a symptom of the problem. Hideous pop sockets are another one. It feels wrong to me; it always felt wrong. Sorry Joanna, you’re holding it wrong.

iPhone changed the world, but it was always compromised in three major areas. I am optimistic and excited because iPhone Duo has a potential to overcome all three of them.

1. Software keyboard
2. Screen is much smaller than laptop
3. Glossy screens

While keeping a small outer form factor, which looks good, can fit in any pocket more securely, the wider aspect ratio allows the best keyboard layout on iOS ever.

Typing on iPhone Duo outer screen is not only possible, it’s more convenient than with my 17 Pro. It felt like I was making fewer typos and had to rely on Auto-Correction less. Keyboard size looks so huge compared to a relatively small outer screen, thanks to a more square-like aspect ratio. iPhone Duo has the most software keyboard-friendly aspect ratio ever. Going back to John’s review, you have to scroll more because more of the content is obscured by the keyboard, but it’s a better compromise than spending more of our lives fiddling with Auto-Correction. And some people, like my sister, even disable it entirely. Apparently it doesn’t work so well with non-English languages, or more likely, some people just don’t trust it.

Since the beginning, it was a typing compromise, and a huge challenge making the typing experience as close as possible to a physical keyboard. A physical keyboard is still better, but with the wider Duo aspect ratio, people will love typing on the outer screen, sending quick messages to loved ones and work colleagues without going into a luxury tablet experience.

While Mac is always going to be my preferred way of computing, I realise most people do not carry their MacBook with them. I do, but I am a specialist. Most people on Earth spend more computing time with their smartphone than using a full-size screen. Apple always had the iPad to bridge this compromise, and with the iPhone Duo, it is the perfect solution for allowing two apps to run at the same time with a perfect combination of hardware and software design.

Finally, for some reason unknown to me, iPhone screens have always been glossy. I really hope for a nano-texture option as the new default for both MacBooks, as well as iOS devices. I would love to see a new generation Duo with the matt surfacing on the outer screen. Throw in Face ID, and I will be to spend my hard-earned £2,000.

I might be in a reality distortion field, amused by a very short time I had with this device, but my intuition tells me we are on the verge of another revolution. A revolution so big, we haven’t seen one since Steve Jobs unveiled the 3 revolutionary devices in 2007. Apple changed the world again. I think Duo is so big, it’s going to matter more in the long term than Apple Watch, AirPods and Vision Pro combined.