---
title: The most interesting iPhone since the X
description: The iPhone Duo transforms from a bulky phone to a functional tablet, enhancing productivity with its spacious display and multitasking capabilities.
doc_version: current
last_updated: '2026-11-02T09:37:14.000Z'
date: '2026-11-02T09:37:10.000Z'
author: Rich Tabor
summary: The iPhone Duo transforms from a bulky phone to a functional tablet, enhancing productivity with its spacious display and multitasking capabilities.
published: true
type: blog
url: /duo
canonical: https://richtabor.com/duo
id: 8811
---

The iPhone Air was the best phone I’d owned in a long while. Thin, light, basically out of the way. The kind of phone I’d never think twice about carrying (unless I was going to be out for a while, because yeah, the battery is pretty sad).

I’d never really considered a foldable. But I like trying the latest tech, so of course I had to make a go of it.

![iPhone Duo unfolded in hand, showing the home screen](https://i0.wp.com/rich.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/iphone-duo-open.jpg?ssl=1&resize=1024%2C682)

![](https://i0.wp.com/rich.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/L1092267-1.jpg?ssl=1&resize=1024%2C682)

Closed, the iPhone Duo is a mediocre, almost awkward, phone. It’s too wide, too thick, and the far side of the screen is a stretch. It does sit more balanced in my palm than a Pro Max, which helps.

But unfold it, and yeah, I get it. It’s now the lightest iPad, with a pretty great screen and tiny bezels. I love it.

Lately I’ve been doing more and more of my work from my phone. Running Codex remotely, chatting with Grok Bot or Claude, sending prompts, queueing up research.

The Duo gives all of that room to breathe.

I can have Grok Bot open next to the [Spacefast](https://spacefast.com/) artifact we’re working on, or go down the list of Codex conversations to keep them moving. There’s less flipping back and forth between views and more of the work in front of me.

Another thing that grew on me is typing with it closed in landscape. Has real [Sidekick](https://www.t-mobile.com/devices/sidekick) vibes.

Sure, there are quirks. The back button not sitting at the top left of the screen drives me nuts, and I’ve never once used the Camera Control button. I’d trade it for an Action button any day.

The X was the last iPhone that felt this different. I remember taking it out of the box and just soaking in that edge-to-edge screen. The Duo hits the same. But the X felt different because it was just really cool to hold. This one feels different because of what I can actually do with it.

So yeah, the extra screen has earned its weight.

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