Overview of YOUR Reactions to the iPhone Duo!
This bonus Waveform episode is a street-style reaction roundup recorded in Cupertino right after Apple’s event. MKBHD, Ellis, and Andrew interview attendees, creators, journalists, and superfans about the biggest reveal: Apple’s first foldable iPhone, nicknamed the iPhone Duo. The conversation also covers John Ternus’ first time hosting a keynote, the missing base iPhone, Apple’s software polish, new battery and camera details, and whether the Duo is actually a practical phone or just an expensive tech flex.
Main Reactions to the iPhone Duo
What people liked
- The form factor felt fresh
- Several guests liked the passport-style, squarish design and thought it stood out from Samsung- and Pixel-style folds.
- The Duo’s software-focused design got a lot of praise, especially the way Apple shifted controls to the right side for easier one-handed use.
- Apple’s animations impressed people
- The fold/open transition and multitasking animations were repeatedly described as very “Apple” and visually polished.
- The price surprised people in a good way
- Many expected something closer to $2,500–$3,000 and were surprised Apple launched it at $1,999.
- Some felt that made it feel more realistic than expected, even if still expensive.
Common concerns
- Durability and heat
- A recurring concern was whether the phone would handle heat, cooling, and long-term durability well.
- People were especially curious about whether the fold would develop a noticeable crease over time.
- Battery and specs
- Some interpreted the Duo as a classic Apple tradeoff: a bold new hardware experience with potentially weaker specs than expected.
- The smaller battery and cooling questions came up often.
- Real-world usefulness
- Many guests liked it, but still said they probably wouldn’t buy it because they already own an iPhone, an iPad, or both.
- The most common sentiment was: cool device, not for me.
Other Event Highlights People Talked About
John Ternus as Apple’s new keynote face
- This was the first major event hosted by John Ternus, and reactions were mostly positive.
- People thought he did well, but he still feels more like a “blank executive” than Tim Cook’s more recognizable on-stage persona.
- Several attendees noticed that Apple skipped the usual theatrical intro and instead passed the presentation along more directly.
No base iPhone at the event
- A surprising change: Apple did not mention the standard base iPhone during the keynote.
- The speculation was that Apple may be shifting it to a later spring event, leaving the September show for the premium devices.
Apple’s software and AI features
Guests also reacted to a few smaller but notable features:
- Apple’s AI/provenance feature for images
- A hardware-level “reference photo” or authenticity-style feature that lets you verify whether an image was edited.
- Seen as a practical, privacy-conscious response to AI-generated image confusion.
- Apple Watch listening/summarization
- Interesting in concept, but some thought Apple did a poor job explaining it.
- Live translation on AirPods
- The demo technically worked, but the real-time conversation flow felt awkward and limited.
AirPods and Watch updates
- A few guests were more excited about the AirPods update than expected.
- The stronger ANC and stem controls were seen as a meaningful quality-of-life improvement.
- The watch update was mostly viewed as incremental, but some liked the direction.
Notable Use Cases Discussed
Pilots and pro apps
- One guest who is training for a commercial pilot’s license said the Duo could be useful if apps like ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot adapt well.
- Cooling was still the big concern for cockpit use.
Creators and vlogging
- A creator guest noted the Duo could be a strong vlogging device, especially because of the camera layout and the way it can be used like a mini laptop.
- The internal and external camera setup was seen as one of the more practical reasons to buy it.
Travelers and passport-style use
- International guests liked the Duo’s resemblance to a passport and said it could fit well for travel-heavy lifestyles.
Overall Takeaways
- The iPhone Duo was the clear star of the event and the clearest sign that Apple is finally taking foldables seriously.
- Apple’s biggest strength here appears to be software integration, not just hardware novelty.
- The $1,999 price made the device feel more attainable than expected, but it’s still a niche luxury product.
- Most attendees agreed it’s an impressive first foldable, but many are waiting to see:
- how hot it gets,
- whether the crease becomes noticeable,
- how the battery holds up,
- and whether it becomes a true everyday phone.
Bottom Line
This episode is basically a live first-impressions report from Apple’s biggest post-keynote crowd: people were impressed, skeptical, and entertained. The consensus was that Apple’s foldable looks polished and thoughtfully designed, but it still needs to prove itself in real-world use before anyone can call it a must-buy.