The internet is full of ridiculous hot takes about almost everything, and the introduction of the iPhone Duo is no exception. From “copying Samsung” to “resurrecting 10-year-old tech in a modern smarphone,” the best, worst and most hilarious hot takes show just how important the new foldable is likely to be.
iPhone Duo hot takes
Apple unveiled the long-rumored iPhone Duo during Wednesday’s Surprise and Shine event. The first folding iPhone looks gorgeous, with a high-end build, a precisely engineered hinge, and slick software touches that make the device head and shoulders above competing foldables.
And of course, since it’s an Apple device, it captured the attention of hardware aficionados, Wall Street analysts, tech influencers and the inevitable half-witted trolls. Lots of folks are looking to capitalize on the frenzy of attention surrounding the iPhone Duo.
Here are some of the hottest (and laziest) takes on Apple’s new foldable.
iPhone Duo is just a remix of a 6-year-old Microsoft product
Back in 2020, Microsoft introduced the Surface Duo. The folding device, which offered a pair of internal screens and no external displays, was intended to be a compact way to bring your tablet with you. Twitter X was ablaze with shots at Apple for “stealing” the duo’s name from the Surface Duo, and for having a similar book-style fold.
exclusive: hands-on with the Duo pic.twitter.com/chHv7xfq7R
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) September 9, 2026
Wait, I thought Microsoft stole from Apple https://t.co/Vo51zc2aZF
— TaraBull (@TaraBull) September 10, 2026
To add insult to injury, people also noted that Microsoft announced (though never shipped) a Surface Neo laptop back in 2020. As MKBHD pointed out:
I just want to say it’s objectively hilarious that Apple makes a product called the Neo and the Duo in 2026. If you know you know
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 9, 2026
Apple copied Samsung
One of the laziest takes about the new iPhone Duo is the claim that Apple copied Samsung. Many people were quick to point out that Samsung has been releasing book-style foldables for seven-plus years, and Apple is late to the party. Even Samsung saw a chance to take a shot at Apple’s foray into foldables.
Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers 😉
— Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) September 9, 2026
I’m so sorry, @DuoLingo. They copied us too #Solidarity
— Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) September 9, 2026
No Face ID in iPhone Duo
To facilitate the iPhone Fold’s unique, passport-like design, Apple moved to a hole-punch front-facing camera and excluded Face ID. Instead, Apple added Touch ID (similar to the iPad and iPad Air)on the right side of the foldable.
This allows users to unlock the device, regardless of whether it’s open or closed. While the rationale makes perfect sense, some users still found it an easy target for complaints, given the iPhone Duo’s $1,999 starting price.
No Face ID on the iPhone Duo is such a turnoff 😩
— Tony Dinh (@tdinh_me) September 10, 2026
The iPhone Duo bringing Touch ID back was not on my 2026 bingo card
It looks like it’s built into the side button, and the outer display basically works like a normal iPhone — widgets, apps, lock screen and all.
Also… no Dynamic Island in sight 👀#iPhoneDuo #Apple… pic.twitter.com/pZW2K0C4JM
— TechieCookie.com (@techie_cookie) September 9, 2026
iphone duo has no face id. touch id only, or you unlock it with your watch.
apple’s most expensive iphone ever just quietly dropped the thing every other iphone has had since 2017
that’s it. that’s the post https://t.co/UHIs5K2xi5 pic.twitter.com/Hz3gCKLMJd
— werden (@0xwerden) September 9, 2026
iPhone Duo is hostile to lefties
The placement of the Touch ID sensor, along with the redesigned Home Screen favoring right-handed users, also fueled frustration. With many navigational elements moved to the right side of the screen, plus the added width of the device, lefties may find the device “unusable.”
Just realized that the iPhone Duo isn’t going to work for me since the controls are for right handed operation. I’m a phone in the left pocket, keys in the right pocket kind of guy. My left hand has learned to operate a smart phone and my right hand does everything else. Even if… pic.twitter.com/erZV2sOFbV
— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) September 10, 2026
I liked the new iPhone Duo. It looks great and fancy in many aspects. Though, this phone is pretty much unusable for me. Simple Reason: I’m a left-handed person.
The design of buttons on the right side totally discards the people like me and unmotivates to spend a single penny.. https://t.co/xh8864AHFC
— Cem Ozden (@alubukad) September 10, 2026
Some users found the redesign so hostile that they felt like Apple was explicitly excluding them.
wait so are left handed people just completely fucked for the iphone duo??? 😆 https://t.co/skncNoDwR0
— Engineer Girlfriend (@enggirlfriend) September 9, 2026
A foldable tipping-point
Regardless of the negativity (or artificial criticism) around iPhone Duo, the device marks an important inflection point for some markets. In the United States, for example, foldables account for less than 2% of smartphone sales. Apple — which accounts for more than 60% of the U.S. mobile market, according to Statcounter — making a move into the foldable form factor could be just what this segment needs to expand.
It’s safe to say poor Samsung knows Apple’s about to take over the foldable market too 🤭😂 pic.twitter.com/nVfOJrKY5d
— kennedy (@nuyou22) September 10, 2026
Apple foldable iPhone Duo looks way better than I expected.
If Apple nails the software and hinge, the foldable market is about to get very interesting.
Would you switch to a foldable iPhone? pic.twitter.com/WJyVvusc4S
— Pankaj Agrawal (@iampankaj_007) September 10, 2026
Others are less optimistic…
I think iPhone Duo just made the Vision Pro mistake…
A novel device with no clear use case that’s too expensive for the average person
No adoption = less developers building on it
No developers = no “killer app” or clear use caseIt’s a shame because Apple makes beautiful… pic.twitter.com/0ZJU6VcG1T
— Adam Lyttle (@adamlyttleapps) September 10, 2026
Tried a foldable smartphone for a while… It’s a bad format.
— Too thick (think, two phones stacked on each other)
— Too awkward to use ergonomically
— Far too expensiveWill a niche product unless they magically figure out how to make it the same thickness as one phone
— @jason (@Jason) September 9, 2026
Time will tell
Ultimately, the iPhone Duo is Apple’s latest venture into another size and form factor of smartphone. Whether it rises to mass-market success, or goes the way of Apple’s Vision Pro headset, remains to be seen. In the meantime, we can enjoy the internet’s opinions and wait for preorders to begin on October 16.
Ian has been an Apple enthusiast for years, starting in 2000 with an iMac and iMovie. Now, so many years later, Ian’s love is as strong as ever, justifying the collection of iPads, iPhones, Apple TV, Macs, iPods, and his beloved Power Mac G5. Ian resides in the suburbs of Minneapolis, works as an IT Solutions Analyst for a Fortune 1000 company, spends most of his free time with his wife and daughter, prefers alternative music, and serves as a volunteer firefighter.
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