Key takeaways
- iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable, launches on October 23 from $1,999, with no charger in the box.
- It is the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil, but only the Apple Pencil (USB-C), and only after a software update later this year.
- Our view: a stronger charger and a secure car mount are worth it. Apple Pencil for a phone is mostly marketing.
iPhone Duo accessories are already filling online stores, weeks before Apple’s first foldable goes on sale on October 23. Some of them make real sense for a $1,999 phone that unfolds into something close to a small tablet. Others feel like Apple and accessory makers simply found a new way to sell you more things.
Here is our honest take on what is worth buying for iPhone Duo, what we would skip, and why the most talked-about accessory, Apple Pencil, does not convince us.
In this article: What Apple confirmed · Apple Pencil: marketing more than need · Charger and car mount · Cases and screen protection · Is the foldable the future? · FAQ
What Apple has confirmed so far
- Release: October 23, starting at $1,999.
- Apple Pencil: supported on both the inner and outer display, but only the Apple Pencil (USB-C), and only after a software update later this year.
- Fast charging: up to 50% in about 20 minutes, but only with a strong enough power adapter.
- In the box: a USB-C cable, no charger.
- Apple’s own case: a $129 Folio with Kickstand, not on sale yet.
- StandBy: when the Duo stands half-open, it can show a clock, widgets or even home security cameras, without charging.
Apple Pencil on a phone: marketing more than need
We understand the idea. When iPhone Duo is unfolded, it really does look more like a small tablet than a phone, and Apple even says the design was inspired by the proportions of a paper notebook. For people who draw or work in design, a pen on that screen could be useful.
But we do not believe many people will actually carry an Apple Pencil around with their phone. There is no built-in slot for it, unlike Samsung’s S Pen phones, where the pen lives inside the device. So picture it: you are walking down the street, you unfold your phone, and then you dig out a separate pen just to write a quick note? We cannot imagine that. In our opinion, this is marketing and nothing more.
People who love Apple Pencil are used to it on the large screen of an iPad, and there it makes complete sense. On a phone, it is just one more accessory you will use a few times and then forget where you put it.
The compatibility rule confirms our suspicion. Only the Apple Pencil (USB-C) works, not older models. That is typical Apple: fewer choices for the customer, and older accessories that simply do not work with new devices. And there is a familiar pattern too. Apple spent years saying a phone should stay a phone, and now it presents a foldable as something completely new.
To be fair, that waiting game is also Apple’s strength. By waiting so long, Apple usually polishes a product until it works almost perfectly, which is why its devices tend to work so well together.
Charger and car mount: the useful ones
A stronger charger. To get the fast 50% in 20 minutes, you need a more powerful USB-C adapter than the old 20W bricks many people still use. Apple recommends its 40W Dynamic Power Adapter. As for the missing charger in the box on a $1,999 phone, we will not even comment. We have all got used to it by now.
A secure car mount. A MagSafe car mount is genuinely useful, especially if you use your phone for navigation. Our only warning: choose one with a strong magnetic hold. The last thing you want is a $2,000 phone falling off the mount on the first sharp turn.
Cases and screen protection
Whether you need a case or a screen protector is very personal. We have not used a screen protector since the iPhone 14, and we like our phones without one. Others would never leave the house without full protection, especially on a foldable with a more delicate inner screen.
The same goes for original versus cheaper third-party accessories. Some people want Apple’s own products, others prefer alternatives at a lower price. It comes down to taste, what each brand offers, and the price tag.
| Accessory | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Stronger USB-C charger | Worth it for fast charging |
| MagSafe car mount | Worth it, if the magnet is strong |
| Case / screen protector | Personal choice |
| Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Skip, unless you draw or design |
Is the foldable phone the future?
Honestly, it is hard to say whether foldables are the future or just a fashion. Everything is changing so quickly right now. Our personal guess is that in a few years, the phone as we know it may slowly disappear and people will use smart glasses instead. Tech companies just have to find a way to make those glasses look good, not awkward.
iPhone Duo Accessories FAQ
Which Apple Pencil works with iPhone Duo?
Only the Apple Pencil (USB-C). Apple says support will arrive through a software update later this year.
Does iPhone Duo come with a charger?
No. Only a USB-C cable is included. You need a stronger adapter for the fastest charging.
How fast does iPhone Duo charge?
Up to 50% in about 20 minutes with a compatible power adapter, such as Apple’s 40W model.
Is Apple selling its own iPhone Duo case?
Yes, a $129 Folio with Kickstand, but it is not on sale yet.
Sources: Apple, 9to5Mac.
