iPhone Duo sidebar blocks 15 percent of outer screen

Apple’s new foldable phone restricts its already small outer display by allocating a fixed sidebar that occupies 15 percent of the screen area.

The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch cover screen. A dock positioned on the right side of this display creates a large block of unused space. In comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 utilizes its outer screen with minimal wasted space, particularly when users employ navigation gestures rather than a physical navigation bar.

Allison Johnson of The Verge provided initial impressions of the device. She noted that the iPhone Duo feels harder to operate with one hand compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The physical shape of the Samsung device is taller and narrower, making its cover screen easier to navigate. Johnson described the iPhone Duo’s interface as less intuitive for single-handed use.

Apple designed the sidebar to help manage navigation on the small display. The system shrinks the available space to stretch media content vertically, mimicking the aspect ratio of a standard slab phone. However, the visual result leaves a substantial portion of the screen empty. A post on Twitter/X highlighted the stark contrast between the two devices, showing how the Galaxy Z Fold 8 allows main content to fill the available area.

The iPhone Duo is currently available to consumers, though stock is limited. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 continues to sell well, benefiting from years of software refinement. Android has become more compatible with large screens as the form factor has evolved. Apple is attempting this specific wide foldable design for the first time, and early feedback suggests the software implementation still lags behind the established competition.

The hardware of the iPhone Duo appears promising, but the operating system presents challenges. Users accustomed to the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s expansive outer display may find the iPhone Duo’s restrictions limiting. The fixed nature of the sidebar means users cannot easily move it to reclaim the blocked space on the right side of the 5.4-inch panel.