Verge staffers react to the iPhone Duo: What we love and don’t love

Disrupting TikTok?

If Apple takes foldables beyond niche, the new 1.4:1 aspect ratio (a far superior ratio!) might change how content creators operate. Seriously, that is a far more reasonable aspect ratio, especially for portraits, and, strangely, it might be the thing that I’m most excited about with the Duo. —Marina Galperina, senior tech editor

Apple is selling me on the passport shape

I wasn’t a big fan of the short and stout foldable look when I saw Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but it’s starting to grow on me. The iPhone Duo looks like it’s comfortable to hold in one hand (which could mean no more dropping my phone on my face while lying down), and its thin profile makes it look pleasant to carry around in a purse. —Emma Roth, news writer

Love the bigger size, but can’t stop thinking about a crease

I find myself using my iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPad more and more for watching TV shows and movies, so having a portable screen that unfolds to something larger is so enticing to me. But I can’t stop worrying about a visible, distracting crease as I fold and unfold it over months of use. I know my eyes (and brain) will attempt to focus on it no matter how slight it is. Maybe the crease will be completely indistinguishable even after over a year, but a minimum of $2,000 is too much for me to take a chance. —John Higgins, senior reviewer, TVs and audio

Apple and Samsung had the same idea

The Duo is similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 in more ways than just its passport-ish size and shape. Both phones have prioritized solid core performance but use more basic rear camera setups that distinguish them firmly from the companies’ Pro and Ultra models. They’re a close match in price, too, with the Duo only $100 more. That leaves space in the market for Android manufacturers like Xiaomi to come in with higher-specced foldables that place more of an emphasis on photography, battery life, and pro features, leaving Apple and Samsung to make the mainstream play. —Dominic Preston, news editor

What will it look like in Europe?

I live under EU regulations so I’m going to wait and see how the AI standoff unfolds and what features are locked only to the US or won’t actually ship until later. I like the idea of the Duo, but I’m not spending over $2,000 on a half-baked idea that needs more time in the oven. —Thomas Ricker, deputy editor

More in: All the news from Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event