From The Verge · Allison Johnson · · 2m
iPhone Duo buyers are returning it after two weeks
Early adopters who paid $2,000 for Apple's foldable phone are sending it back, citing the hinge, weight, and a two-in-one device that sometimes feels like neither.
In brief
Early adopters who paid $2,000 for Apple's foldable phone are sending it back, citing the hinge, weight, and a two-in-one device that sometimes feels like neither. Some iPhone Duo buyers are returning the two thousand dollar foldable phone within Apple's fourteen day window, citing hardware issues, weight, and the…
Two weeks is enough to know
The iPhone Duo launched just over two weeks ago. Day-one buyers who aren't happy are returning it within Apple's fourteen day window, wanting their two thousand dollars back.
It's an early adopter device
The Duo is not for everyone. It's an early adopter device described as a messy, expensive good time, and the hinge appears to be suffering some first generation growing pains.
“a messy, expensive good time”
Sales are still strong
Despite the returns, Apple seems to be selling Duos just fine. New online orders are projected to ship in January, suggesting demand remains solid.
The two-in-one is sometimes a con
Ben Seligson, a content creator and photographer, found that having a phone that's also your iPad wasn't always ideal.
“If I can have an iPad in my pocket, that would be great.”
The ecosystem lock-in is real
Michael Hayes and Ben Seligson both considered Android foldables but decided against switching.Hayes says he's locked into the ecosystem now.
“Unless something massive changes, I'm locked into the ecosystem now.”
A cracked screen on day two
Fayethe Vongsouvanh, an art director, had a cracked screen on the second day of owning the Duo.They were recovering from hand surgery and knew they hadn't been rough with it.
“At the time, I was at home recovering from hand surgery, so I knew there was no way I was too rough with it.”
Weight and bulk were dealbreakers
Vongsouvanh cited weight as the biggest factor in returning the second Duo. The phone is just too heavy and bulky for their daily use, they said.
“The phone is just too heavy and bulky for my daily use.”
The Duo left a mark anyway
Even though they returned it, the Duo inspired users to reconsider other devices.Seligson misses its specialness.Vongsouvanh now uses an older iPad Pro more often.
“It felt different, and it didn't feel like the same phone everyone's had for the last ten years.”
Extended return window through January
Apple's holiday return policy kicked in on November sixth. Anyone getting their Duo now will have until January eighth, twenty twenty-seven, to return it for a full refund.
The bottom line
Some iPhone Duo buyers are returning the two thousand dollar foldable phone within Apple's fourteen day window, citing hardware issues, weight, and the awkwardness of a device that tries to be both phone and tablet.
