I watched the keynote, read the usual summary articles, and then read the two-day thoughtful response articles (some of whom had good thoughts).
This is a weird one.
My own response is that the iPhone Duo is a tour de force of engineering, material science, and software. And that combination makes it very attractive. It really seems different in some way. Different enough that as a retired system designer I’m seriously considering it because I’m a sucker for stellar design. But, as a retired system designer, I no longer have clients who instantly buy the latest-greatest that I will then have to support (it’s different enough from yer standard iPhone that it would be necessary) and I find the $2,000 price gulp-inducing enough to place the big purchase credit card way back in the drawer (to allow, er, further meditation).
It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out. It will do much better than the knee-jerk naysayers think, nor is it going to be a colossal home run, it’s going to be something curious.
Dave
P.S. If you don’t want to spend hours sashaying around all the hub-bub, watch Joanna Stern’s quick impressively to the point impression (6 minutes and quite charming): I Tested Apple’s New FOLDABLE iPhone Duo
Agreed. Having seen the presentation and the ad (which is popping up all over YouTube right about now), I really like it. But there’s no way I’m spending $2000 on any phone, no matter how much I might like it.
But I didn’t plan on upgrading at all this year. My 13 mini is working just fine, although I should see about getting a new battery in it…
I’m about due for an updated phone, I’ve just sold a property which leaves me with some extra cash, and I could use a tax deduction. Before seeing it I had zero interest in a foldable, but it looks compelling enough to be a consideration.
What’s stopping me is it’s a first iteration. I’m sure it will be very good, but for that amount of money I prefer it to be more mature than bleeding edge. Maybe I’ll plunge at version two or three, and hopefully the memory chip crisis may have eased, and the prices a bit less eye watering.
“One thing I learned from this video is that I’m way, way too careful when playing with the hands-on area demo units. I handle them like museum pieces; Stern treats them like hot dog buns.”
The rumors prior to Apple’s announcement said no FaceID and no telephone camera, which were dealbreakers to me. However, seeing the Duo in the presentation it looks so impressive, I am tempted. It really is a different beast.
That said, I am still torn. I don’t see how I could give up my Pro’s better cameras (I use telephone every day), so I’d have to either keep my 17 Pro Max or upgrade to the 18 Pro Max (monthly payments are about the same either way) and get a Duo to use as a wifi-only iPad. It’s pricey for that, though. In theory Apple’s new iPhone Handoff feature could allow me to get both 18 Pro and Duo and switch cellular between them as needed… except AT&T is not supported yet.
The new lease program sounds like a good way to spread out the Duo’s $2K payments… except you can’t do the lease without a cellular contract! So then I’m paying full-price for a first-generation product.
fye sidebar: I was hoping for something in the style of an updated Motorola Startac flip phone, for the Apple users olde enough to remember the other Apple Duo product… .
It’s definitely in the mix for my next upgrade. But that… is a few years off. My 16 Pro has another three years to go at least. As does my iPad mini. That will see Duo version 2 or 3. But I’d like one, for sure. Didn’t think I would… but I do.
