Hard to do otherwise when everything from reviewers to reddit comments are astroturfed.
If you use it in a way that results in visible wear, the seller is allowed to deduct depreciation when you return it; that rarely happens.
I switch Android/iOS (and once Windows Mobile) every time I get a new phone (which is when it breaks, usually after 5-6 years), it's always a bit of pain, like now I really miss some iOS features (iPhone mini 12 did not survive the humid jungles of Malaysia), but my Pixel 10 with GrapheneOS has some cool things, like a desktop mode! I'm beginning to appreciate the (in screen) fingerprint reader, but indeed, at first I really missed face-id. Overal Android (at least GrapheneOS) is more like a full computer than iOS. Which has pros and cons. And, hooray for LibrePods ;) (AirPods work without it, but it adds some nice things.)
I also feel a switch to KDE/Konveyor coming up after years of vanilla Gnome...
I suffer from quite intense anxiety, so I went back and forth on this decision for days, and writing my thoughts up on my blog was a way for me to clear my head and 'settle' it internally. I shared it with a few friends who had asked about the decision, and then it ended up on here.
* TouchID (as implemented on Duo specifically) sucks, really hope next gen has FaceID
* Screen ratios make reels-like addictive content less appealing which is great for me
* Inner screen is a game changer for using Agents on the go, absurdly better than a normal phone
I’m keeping mine, the big screen on the go is a completely different level of productivity.
> Screen ratios make reels-like addictive content less appealing which is great for me
> to using the larger screen instead of Mac
I'm really hoping they will add face id next gen. I choose the installment purchase just to get the next phone after 11 months offer.
In closed form, it’s tiny, especially with keyboard active. Not something I’d want to be using for more than two minutes, let alone reading or watching videos on. This was my main concern, but I soon realized closed form is “pocket mode” since in my pocket is just about the only time the phone is closed. Occasionally I’ll pull it out and, keeping it closed, select some audio, set up a call, or emoji-react, then put it back. The rest of the time the phone is open, whether I’m out or at home, charging or not.
Another problem is what OP mentions, touch ID. It seemingly jumps around like whack-a-mole because of the 8 possible combinations of (open/closed state) x (orientation). There’s even more dimensions to hammer your muscle memory if you also consider which hand you’re using or whether you’re using it with one versus two hands.
I’m gradually getting used to guessing where the Touch ID is though. I do prefer it for wallet payments since the finger is already on the button. I’ve learned to double-click and verify before making any attempt to tap the phone.
The keyboard in open mode is full-width, and that’s not fun to swipe-type on. I think Apple overlooked this since they omitted the iPad setting to reduce the keyboard size. I expect that’s coming eventually.
As for apps, many third-party apps are still using un-responsive layouts like the early iPad days. Some, e.g., Kindle, are outright non-functional when the phone is open. Certain companies will rave about their AI chops yet they’ve been unable to compose a few magic prompt words to target Duo. This will improve in time.
I’ll live with all these trade-offs for the bigger screen. Reading and video were obvious applications, but using maps when mobile was a pleasant surprise. It feels like folding out an old paper map. It’s very readable in the sun too. I prefer reading on electronic display to e-ink due to the responsiveness, so it’s a big win to have an electronic display that doesn’t suffer from glare.
I think preferences will heavily depends on lifestyle. In particular, people who drive a lot won’t see the same benefits. If you spend a lot of time walking or on public transport, it’s a game changer.
My current Android phone (Pixel 7) has both Face Unlock and an on-screen fingerprint scanner. My previous phone (a OnePlus) had Face Unlock along with a rear-mounted fingerprint reader, which was even better.
Unlocking a phone has never felt as effortless on my iPhones; after all these years, it continues to be a nuisance. Face ID is fine, but you have to hold the phone right in front of your face (and its angle sensitivity is far less forgiving than on my Android phones, where it recognizes you even at an angle--unlike the iPhone, where you practically have to hold it parallel to your face).
Plus, there are countless situations where you cannot or do not want to pick up your phone from a table just to align it with your face. In those cases, I am forced to type in my passcode, whereas an on-screen fingerprint scanner would be a billion times more convenient.
I am mostly baffled that such a "solved," trivial problem in the Android ecosystem continues to be a topic or a matter of "choice" on iPhones.
Just feels like a compromise on least bad form factor that apple engineers said was feasible placed at the least bad spot that apple UX designers could come up with.
But that least-bad is still just not great, not “apple great”
But if I'm in the mountains, wearing sunglasses and a winter coat that hugs my chin and a hat that goes down to my eyebrows, face id struggles. I sometimes don't wear gloves in this situation, so touch ID would be usable.
I go past a Mac store in London frequently. It is usually very very busy ... apart from their VR headset table that has exactly zero people at it. Its become a bit of a joke for me now to see if there is ever a single customer there. Seems like more than 15billion USD well spent!
The question isn't whether or not there's value to unlock in the foldables category, it's whether manufacturers can get the product right, and overcome durability concerns among a consumer base that is righteously conservative about durability concerns on high-cost devices that they depend on every day.
When considering questions like these, you can't look at what you want or even what the people you know want. You have to look at the overall statistics.
And given that when the Duo was announced, preorders nearly instantly slipped out by months, I think it's a fair take to say that people want these kinds of devices.
I haven't yet seen one in person, but from what I've seen online, I think it unlikely that I will want one...but I can see what's appealing about them to those who do.
Complaining about app support in the first week of release is silly. It will obviously get better very fast. Apple will force developers to make all new updates work well.
If there is an app thay still has the zoom button its extreamly outdated
I modified my app to present its menu on the side for Duo. It's a bit of a pain, but an LLM helps. I am still waiting on user feedback from the field. I feel as if it's fairly ugly.
Personally, I'm in no hurry to get one, myself. I have an iPhone 17 Pro and an iPad Mini, which do it for me now. I would like to combine them, but I'm waiting for the inevitable "teething issues" to work out, first.
What happens to these returned phones?
seems like the crux of the matter right there.
I wonder how many thousands the author has spent chasing the dragon.
Yet another reason why it makes sense to never buying the first version of an Apple product [1], since previously:
> "But once again as I said before, don't buy the first version of an Apple product."
This was Apple's first foldable iPhone. If the price wasn't enough of a deterrent, then the defects should now be even clearer to wait until Apple fixes them in the next version.
[0] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/26/iphone-du...