Duo Buyers Need $249 in Add-Ons to Reach Apple's Stated Charging, Pencil Specs

Apple's iPhone Duo reached 50 percent charge in about 20 minutes, but hitting that mark requires a power adapter the box does not include. The company's first foldable phone, available now, ships with a USB-C cable only. Apple lists its 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max at $34, marked down from $39, and Anker sells a 100W USB-C charger with a five-foot cable for $29.

Pencil support, a first for any iPhone, requires another separate purchase. Apple says the Duo can take notes and sketches on both its outer and inner displays, with the design drawn from the proportions of a standard A-series paper notebook. That capability arrives next week in the iOS 27.2 update, and only the Apple Pencil (USB-C) works with it. The pencil lists at $69, down from $79.

Together, a pencil, a fast charger, and other gear 9to5Mac recommends for Duo buyers adds up. ESR's MagSafe Car Mount, which clips to an air vent, is $19, marked down from $29. The SPIDIRCASE Magnetic Case, with a built-in stand and screen protector, runs $29, and the Spigen Ultra Hybrid Pro, a clear MagSafe-compatible case, is $39. Apple sells its own iPhone Duo Case at $79 and the iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand at $129.

Apple has also opened StandBy mode to Duo owners without requiring the phone to be charging. Standing upright, the device can display StandBy views including Home Camera and Home Modular, both of which reach smart home accessories. For that setup, 9to5Mac points to the Aqara G100 2K camera at $39 and the eufy 4K camera at $69, each compatible with HomeKit.

For use in a car, 9to5Mac pairs the Duo with CarPlay so a map appears on the vehicle's display while the handset shows step-by-step directions in Apple Maps. The site expects that arrangement to work better on the Duo's larger display.

One pick on the list is not Duo-specific: AirPods Pro 3, on sale at Amazon for $199, down from $249, for anyone without AirPods or holding an older pair. The writer uses them through the workday and singles out the noise cancellation for focusing. The total for a pencil, a fast charger, a car mount, a case, and a security camera comes to $249.