I’ve been a longtime fan of small phones, and I’m sad that they’re now all but gone.
I remember my iPhone 12 Mini fondly; it was my daily driver until 2024, when the aging battery finally convinced me to upgrade. Since the 5.4-inch iPhone Mini series had been discontinued, I had no choice but to purchase a 6.1-inch iPhone 16 — the smallest one available.
After two years with a 6-inch iPhone screen, I’ve mostly gotten used to the larger size. But I would love to own a smaller phone again, especially a device that’s easy to use one-handed.
That brings me to the new iPhone Duo. Announced last week, Apple’s first folding phone has a 7.6-inch inner display that is only slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad Mini. If you want to get work done or play immersive games on a device that still fits in your pocket, this is the iPhone for you.
What interests me most about the iPhone Duo is the outer display. At 5.4 inches, it is coincidentally the exact same size as my old iPhone 12 Mini (albeit with a wider aspect ratio).
It would be the perfect phone for me — if only it didn’t come with the second screen and $2,000 price tag.
I like the idea of folding phones, and the iPhone Duo looks like the best execution of the concept yet. I love the blur animation when opening and closing the phone, creating the illusion that its outer screen is a transparent window into the inner display. I also think the 7.6-inch screen would be great for watching movies on the go.
I might be tempted, if I had $2,000 to spare. But that’s a lot of money for a phone that I would still treat as a secondary device to my MacBook.
Maybe if I spent a few weeks with the iPhone Duo, I would start using it for “serious tasks” like editing spreadsheets or comparing plane ticket prices. I’m sure there are many scenarios where such a device would be ideal. Still, I don’t think a folding phone will ever fully replace my laptop.
Recently, I pulled my old iPhone 12 Mini out of a closet and updated it to iOS 26. While its battery life was abysmal, I was surprised by how pleasantly the 5.4-inch phone fit in my hand. When I first made the switch to a “standard” 6-inch iPhone, I had to adapt to its larger screen. But the iPhone Mini still feels like it was custom-made for me.
Phones are growing too big to reasonably use with one hand, and bigger screens mean more distractions. If there were a new 5.4-inch phone with modern features and solid battery life, I would be the first in line. I would even pay $1,000 for it. (The iPhone 12 Mini and 13 mini both debuted at $729, but hey, there’s inflation and RAMageddon.)
Apple, if you’re reading this article: Give me half of the iPhone Duo for half the price. I just want a phone that easily fits in my hand and slips into my pocket — you can save the bigger screens for the iPads.
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