Marques Brownlee, the technology YouTuber whose channel counts more than 21 million subscribers, has advised most people against buying Apple's first foldable iPhone, according to Vietnam.vn. In a review published after roughly a week and a half of testing, he argued that the $2,000 handset makes sense mainly for buyers who want to try something new and are not bothered by the cost.
The iPhone Duo marks Apple's arrival in the foldable phone segment, years after Samsung and Google released competing devices. Vietnam.vn reports that the phone went on sale on October 23, though not everyone who wants one will be able to get it. In Vietnam, pricing starts at 64.99 million VND for the 256 GB model and reaches 103.99 million VND for the 2 TB version, with orders placed now scheduled for delivery from January 27, 2027.
Brownlee described Apple's first attempt as a polished piece of hardware but said buyers still face meaningful trade-offs. He praised the display, the hinge and the software effects built into the device, while flagging its weight, its camera and gaps in app compatibility as reasons the average user should think twice.
Why it matters
Apple is entering a category it has watched from the sidelines while rivals built out foldable lineups. A lukewarm verdict from one of the most-watched reviewers in technology carries weight, particularly because Brownlee's criticism is aimed at the everyday experience rather than at the concept itself. His conclusion suggests the iPhone Duo may appeal to enthusiasts and early adopters while leaving mainstream iPhone owners with little reason to switch.
The launch also arrives with signs of strong early demand. Computer Sweden reported that the foldable iPhone has already sold out, and other outlets have begun publishing their own first reviews. Swedroid noted praise for the screen alongside criticism of the device's weight, while Feber's review went as far as suggesting readers sell their iPad and buy the Duo instead — a contrast that underlines how divided early impressions are.
Software gaps and missing features draw scrutiny
Brownlee's sharpest complaints concerned software. Apple has redesigned its own apps to take advantage of the folding screen, according to Vietnam.vn, but many widely used third-party apps have not received comparable updates. Spotify, Google Maps, Discord, X and Google Calendar were among the apps he cited as poorly optimized for the device. Some display black bars while the phone is closed, and others open on the larger screen as scaled-up versions of the standard iPhone app.
He expects the situation to improve as developers ship updates over the coming months, though he acknowledged that some apps may never be adapted for the iPhone Duo. His summary of the device's overall finish was that it is carefully crafted at the edges but rougher in the middle.
On hardware, Brownlee pointed to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 as substantially thinner and more than 20 percent lighter than Apple's device, making it easier to handle. He also criticized the absence of Face ID, which Apple replaced with a fingerprint sensor built into the power button. In his testing, that sensor introduced a delay that made unlocking the phone slower than users of other iPhones are used to, and he said Face ID is likely to be the feature people miss most when switching from another iPhone model.
The camera drew further criticism. Despite carrying the highest price of any iPhone, the Duo lacks a dedicated telephoto lens and does not offer professional video tools such as ProRes and Log. Brownlee said the device is not aimed at iPhone filmmakers who need professional features and the best possible image quality.
What the phone does well
The review was not uniformly negative. Brownlee highlighted the 7.6-inch OLED screen, whose matte coating cuts reflections and makes the display's crease less noticeable. He also credited the battery life, the smooth transition between the two screens and the ability to run two apps side by side.
The hinge allows the phone to stay partly open, enabling functions such as hands-free viewing and a standby mode. Vietnam.vn reports that Brownlee considers Apple's first foldable a genuine step forward for the iPhone line, even if the compromises remain significant.
His advice to ordinary users was direct. Those who mainly send messages, browse social media and occasionally use the web should probably hold off, he said, as should people who tend to drop and break their phones. But for buyers who are comfortable spending $2,000 and are curious about the form factor, he called it an interesting device once they adjust to life without Face ID.
Watch for third-party developers to update their apps for the folding screen in the months ahead, and for more first reviews to shape early demand.
