iPhone Duo sidebar shrinks usable display

Apple’s first foldable phone is receiving mixed reactions from early users.

The primary criticism focuses on how the software handles the small outer display. The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch cover screen. Apple includes a mandatory sidebar on this screen. The sidebar sits on the right side of the display.

This design choice creates a large area of unused space on the left. The Verge’s Allison Johnson noted in a review that the interface restricts the small display. She explained that the sidebar was intended to make navigation easier. However, the placement leaves a big chunk of the screen essentially empty. Johnson added that the device feels harder to use with one hand compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers a different approach. Samsung’s device has a taller and narrower physical shape. This allows the cover screen to be more easily navigable. When the Galaxy Z Fold 8 uses navigation gestures, very little screen space is wasted. The main content area remains open and unobstructed.

Apple’s strategy aims to mimic a standard slab phone. The software shrinks the allowed space for apps. This stretches media vertically to appear taller. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 demonstrates that leaving the space free for main content works well for users. A post on Twitter/X highlighted the severe difference between the two interfaces. The Verge video showed the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a navigation bar, which made the difference less obvious than with gestures.

The iPhone Duo is already available to the public. Its availability is currently limited. Samsung continues to refine the Galaxy Z Fold line. Google and Samsung have improved Android to be friendlier on big screens over the years. Apple’s first attempt at this form factor still faces usability hurdles. The hardware looks promising, but the software implementation leaves room for improvement.