iPhone Duo Sidebar Limits Screen Space

Early reviews of the iPhone Duo suggest its software limits the utility of its small outer display.

The device features a 5.4-inch cover screen. A fixed sidebar dock is positioned on the right side of this panel. This layout leaves a portion of the display unused for main content. Allison Johnson, a reviewer for The Verge, noted that this design reduces the usable area by roughly 15 percent.

Johnson compared the iPhone Duo to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. She stated that the iPhone Duo feels harder to use with one hand. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a taller and narrower physical shape. This form factor makes its cover screen easier to navigate. Johnson said this is a major factor for users who prefer the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for its unique outer screen.

Apple implemented the sidebar to make navigation easier on the small display. The company intended to shrink the available space to stretch media vertically. This approach mimics the layout found on standard slab devices. A post on X highlighted the visual difference between the two phones. The iPhone Duo leaves a large chunk of the display empty on the right.

The comparison depends on user settings for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Johnson used a navigation bar on the Samsung device in her video. This setting made the difference less obvious. Users of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 who rely on navigation gestures see very little wasted screen space. The Samsung phone leaves the area free for main content.

The iPhone Duo is currently available but in limited quantities. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 continues to be a success for Samsung. The iPhone Duo represents Apple's first attempt at a wide foldable. Critics argue that the hardware looks promising, but iOS leaves room for improvement on this new form factor.