A new device from Apple, the foldable iPhone Duo, has arrived at a price of $1,999 and stirred a sharp question from a rival executive: whether it truly gives its buyers enough. Carl Pei, the chief of Nothing, points to what is missing rather than what is present, namely a telephoto lens, Face ID, and the fuller set of photographic controls that Apple's pricier phones carry. Apple has offered no explanation of its own, and the likeliest reason, the thinness of the unfolded body, hints at the old bargain of design against function that every new form has to strike. Whether this early compromise
Nothing's Carl Pei Says Apple's $1,999 iPhone Duo Falls Short on Camera and Face ID
At $1,999, he says, the iPhone Duo does not deliver enough.
Mark
So what is Carl Pei actually objecting to?
Mimi
Mostly value. At $1,999, he says the iPhone Duo lacks a telephoto camera, Face ID and advanced photo controls.
Mark
Face ID has been standard for years, hasn't it?
Mimi
Since the iPhone X in 2017, on Apple's flagships. Its absence here stands out.
Luke
Do we know why Apple dropped it?
Mimi
No. Apple hasn't said anything publicly.
Luke
Then the 5.2mm thickness is a guess, right?
Mimi
Yes, it's one possible explanation in reports, along with the challenge of supporting it on two screens.
Mark
And the camera gap?
Mimi
A 12-megapixel front camera versus 18 on the $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro, plus no telephoto, no LiDAR, and no shutter speed or aperture controls.
Luke
Those specs are described as reported, so I'd treat them with some care. And the Gurman point about a third generation is also reportedly his view, not an Apple commitment.
Mark
So it's a trade-off.
Mimi
Yes. Slim design, nearly invisible crease, 120Hz screen and A20 Pro against missing features.
Der Puls
- Carl Pei has publicly challenged Apple's $1,999 iPhone Duo, calling its value into question on a major stage of tech debate.
- The absence of Face ID, a feature standard on Apple flagships since 2017, has left buyers and commentators puzzled and unsettled.
- A 5.2mm unfolded thickness may be forcing hard trade-offs in hardware, with no official word from Apple to settle the question.
- Camera gaps, including a 12-megapixel front lens against 18 megapixels on the $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro and no telephoto, are fueling the debate.
- Reports point to Face ID and telephoto arriving in a third-generation model, so the wait for a fix may be longer than early buyers hope.
A new device from Apple, the foldable iPhone Duo, has arrived at a price of $1,999 and stirred a sharp question from a rival executive: whether it truly gives its buyers enough. Carl Pei, the chief of Nothing, points to what is missing rather than what is present, namely a telephoto lens, Face ID, and the fuller set of photographic controls that Apple's pricier phones carry. Apple has offered no explanation of its own, and the likeliest reason, the thinness of the unfolded body, hints at the old bargain of design against function that every new form has to strike. Whether this early compromise becomes a passing chapter or a lasting trait will depend on what Apple chooses to bring forward, and when.
In a video posted to Instagram, Nothing CEO Carl Pei turned his attention to Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, and the figure at the heart of his complaint was $1,999. At that price, he argued, the device simply does not offer enough, and he began with the missing telephoto camera and the thin set of photography tools.
The reaction to the Duo has otherwise been warm. It drew generally positive first impressions at Apple's recent launch event, which makes Pei's criticism stand out. He believes the camera hardware, the authentication system, and the design compromises together add up to less than a phone at this price should deliver.
The most striking absence is Face ID, a feature Apple's flagships have carried since the iPhone X in 2017. Apple has not explained why it was left out. Reporting suggests the phone's 5.2mm unfolded thickness may leave too little room for the required hardware, and that facial recognition across both screens poses its own challenge. Discussion on Reddit has floated a simpler idea: Touch ID on the outer display and Face ID on the inner one.
The camera shortfalls are also concrete. The Duo reportedly carries a 12-megapixel front camera, while the $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro has 18 megapixels, and the Duo lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, a LiDAR scanner, and manual shutter and aperture controls.
There are hints the gaps may close. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reportedly suggested Face ID and telephoto could come to a future version, though possibly not until a third generation. The Duo's strengths remain real: a slim build, a nearly invisible crease, a 120Hz ProMotion display with always-on support, the A20 Pro chip, and USB-C Apple Pencil compatibility.
The question, then, is whether that slimness is worth the features many buyers expect at this price. Pei says it is not yet. Whether Apple answers in its second generation or waits for its third is what will decide the matter.
In a video posted to Instagram, Nothing CEO Carl Pei took aim at Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, and the number at the center of his argument was $1,999. At that price, he said, the device does not deliver enough, and he pointed first to the missing telephoto camera and the limited set of photography tools.
The criticism lands against a mostly warm early reception. The iPhone Duo was shown at Apple's recent launch event and drew generally positive first reactions. Pei's view is that the camera hardware, the biometric authentication and the design compromises add up to less than a phone at this price should offer.
The most conspicuous omission is Face ID. The feature has been on Apple's flagship phones since the iPhone X arrived in 2017, and the Duo does not have it. Pei treats that as a notable gap for a phone priced at $1,999. Apple has not publicly explained the decision. One possible factor, according to the reporting, is the phone's 5.2mm thickness when unfolded, which may leave little room for the hardware Face ID requires. Supporting facial recognition on both the inner and outer screens could be a further design challenge.
The camera complaints are more specific. Going by the specifications cited, the Duo has a 12-megapixel front camera, while the iPhone 18 Pro, priced at $1,199, has an 18-megapixel selfie camera. The Duo also reportedly lacks a dedicated telephoto camera, a LiDAR scanner, and the advanced controls, including shutter speed and aperture adjustments, that are available on the iPhone 18 Pro models. For buyers expecting a full set of camera features from a premium phone, those omissions could disappoint.
There are signs the gaps may not be permanent. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reportedly named Face ID and a dedicated telephoto camera as features that could improve future versions of the foldable. They may not show up in the second generation, though, and could wait for the third. Discussion on Reddit has also centered on the loss of Face ID. One suggestion there is Touch ID on the outer display and Face ID on the inner screen, which might make unlocking more convenient without needing two facial-recognition systems.
The Duo does have strengths that could appeal to people shopping for a high-end foldable. It has a thin build, a nearly invisible crease in the display, a 120Hz ProMotion screen with always-on support, Apple's A20 Pro chipset, and compatibility with the USB-C Apple Pencil.
The trade-off, then, is between that slim form and the camera and authentication features many buyers expect at this price. Pei's criticism turns on whether the compromises are worth it. Whether Apple answers with a second-generation update or holds the fixes for a third is the thing to watch.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
The iPhone Duo's $1,999 price is not justified by its missing telephoto camera, Face ID and advanced photography features.— Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing (paraphrased)
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