On the same day Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, a series of hands‑on videos began circulating online that give the first public look at the iPhone Duo, the company’s forthcoming fold‑able phone slated for an October release. The clips, posted by several creators on Instagram and YouTube, walk viewers through the device’s software keyboard, multitasking layout, camera functions and other novel interactions.
Keyboard innovations and one‑handed typing
One of the first impressions comes from the Instagram account Flourish Planner, which posted a short reel highlighting how the Duo handles text input on both its outer and inner displays. The video shows a user typing with a single hand on the exterior screen, noting that the experience feels “easier than expected.” When the phone is unfolded and held vertically, the same creator describes the typing experience as “great,” suggesting that the larger, unfolded surface does not hinder speed or accuracy.
In landscape orientation, the folding display offers a split‑keyboard layout. The keyboard divides into two halves that sit under each thumb, allowing for comfortable one‑handed use even when the screen is spread wide. This design mirrors solutions seen on some Android foldables and appears intended to mitigate the challenges of typing on a large, flexible panel.
Reading mode and multitasking layout
Flourish Planner also demonstrated a reading mode that mimics a physical book. In the clip, the Duo is partially folded, and a page‑flip animation creates the impression of turning real pages. The visual effect, combined with the device’s adjustable hinge, aims to give users a more tactile reading experience compared with standard tablet or phone reading apps.
Rich DeMuro’s video shifts focus to multitasking. He showcases how system apps adapt when the Duo is rotated into landscape mode. The layout places primary content on the right side of the screen while sidebars and navigation elements occupy the left, a configuration that closely resembles the iPad’s split‑view interface. This arrangement suggests that Apple intends the Duo to serve as a hybrid between a phone and a tablet, offering a familiar iPad‑style workflow within a single, foldable chassis.
Camera capabilities, gaming and StandBy mode
A separate post from GadgetMatch compiles demonstrations of several additional features. The video includes footage of the Duo’s camera system, which appears to have exclusive modes not yet seen on other iPhone models. Early testers expressed enthusiasm for these capabilities, though specific technical details were not disclosed in the clip.
The same source also highlighted gaming performance and a new StandBy mode, which presumably provides a low‑power display for quick glances at information when the phone is docked. While the video does not delve into benchmark numbers, the inclusion of gaming tests indicates that Apple is confident in the Duo’s processing power and thermal management.
Collectively, the videos paint a picture of a device that blends familiar iOS interactions with adaptations required for a foldable form factor. From a split keyboard that accommodates thumb typing to an iPad‑like multitasking view and a book‑style reading animation, the iPhone Duo seems designed to make the transition between folded and unfolded states feel natural.
Apple has not yet released official specifications, and the company has not confirmed many of the features shown in the user‑generated content. Nevertheless, the hands‑on footage provides a valuable preview of what consumers can expect when the iPhone Duo becomes available later this year.
Steve Lopez is a Senior Editorial Columnist and Health & Public Policy reporter for News Raise. Steve focuses on healthcare advancements, medical technologies, and public health policies.
