Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Oct 21

iPhone Duo Reviewers Fault Slow Touch ID on $2,000 Foldable as Face ID Absence Stings

Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Oct 21

iPhone Duo Reviewers Fault Slow Touch ID on $2,000 Foldable as Face ID Absence Stings

Q: Does the iPhone Duo's unique matte display secretly mask the inherent flaws of modern foldable technology?

Yes — but only partly. The iPhone Duo’s matte nano-texture display appears to do more than improve comfort; it also visually downplays some of foldables’ most persistent weaknesses, especially glare, crease visibility and reflectivity around imperfections. That is not hidden in the reporting. Apple has openly said the matte inner layer is intended to reduce glare and make the crease less noticeable over time. Reviewers found that it works: the inner screen reflects less light, making the crease harder to spot head-on and in bright environments, and helping the device feel more usable for reading, travel and outdoor use. Some hands-on impressions even said the crease nearly disappears when the screen is on. But the coating does not eliminate the underlying limits of foldable hardware. Early reports still describe a visible crease from some angles, a noticeable under-display camera, and the usual trade-offs of a complex multilayer plastic-and-glass folding panel. Reviewers also noted a cost: the matte finish can slightly soften detail and reduce the punch of blacks compared with the glossy outer screen. So the matte display is best understood as both a genuine usability upgrade and a clever optical fix. It does not solve the core engineering challenges of foldables — durability over years, crease formation, and display uniformity — but it does make those flaws less intrusive in daily use. For a first-generation foldable, that may be one of the smartest compromises Apple made.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Oct 21

Multiple reviewers said iPhone Duo’s side-button Touch ID feels slower than Face ID because Apple inserts a brief pause on the Lock Screen before completing an unlock.
Apple told reviewers the delay is intentional to show notifications and keep Touch ID behavior consistent with Macs and iPads, though Marques Brownlee said he could not disable it.
Several outlets said the friction shows up dozens of times a day: Joanna Stern reported fumbling unlocks after a week, while others cited problems with wet or greasy fingers, gloves and accidental haptic error buzzes.
Apple Watch unlock emerged as a faster workaround for some reviewers, but the criticism adds to broader complaints about the $2,000 foldable’s tradeoffs despite praise for its design and hinge.