iPhone Duo sidebar takes up space on its small screen
Reviewers note the 5.4-inch display loses usable area to a fixed dock, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
By Aiko Soto ·
The iPhone Duo's new sidebar reduces the usable area on its 5.4-inch cover screen.
Apple has introduced its first wide foldable, but early user feedback points to software limitations. Samsung has spent years refining Android for foldable devices. Google and Samsung improved the operating system to handle larger screens better. Apple is entering this space with a fresh approach on hardware that appears promising. However, iOS currently presents challenges on the iPhone Duo.
Allison Johnson from The Verge provided a short review outlining specific usability issues. She noted that the iPhone Duo feels harder to use with one hand compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a taller and narrower physical shape. This design makes its cover screen easier to navigate. Users who preferred the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for its unique outer display may find the iPhone Duo less practical in this regard.
The iPhone Duo uses a sidebar to manage navigation on its small display. The dock is positioned on the right side of the screen. This layout leaves a large portion of the display unused. Another comparison on X highlighted the difference between the two devices. In a video by The Verge, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 used a navigation bar rather than gestures. This setup made the screen space difference appear less obvious. For users who rely on navigation gestures on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, almost no screen space is wasted.
Apple designed the iPhone Duo interface to save space. The system shrinks the allowed area to stretch media vertically. This mimics the look of a standard slab device. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 demonstrates that leaving the space open for main content works well. Apple is attempting a space-saving solution, but the result limits the small display.
The iPhone Duo is available for purchase now, though stock is limited. Samsung continues to see success with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The two devices offer different approaches to managing screen real estate on foldable hardware.
Allison Johnson appeared on episode 34 of The Sideload to discuss these findings further.
