However, by far the biggest problem is the lack of Face ID. Due to the complexity of the dual-screen design and TrueDepth camera system, Apple opted to use Touch ID as the sole biometric unlock/authentication on the Duo. That means more clumsiness and less comfort when wearing gloves or holding a drink. But according to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is looking to fix this issue as soon as possible.
In his new podcast Power On, Gurman reveals some details he heard about the next generations of iPhone Duo:
But this is what I have heard. There are a few different features that Apple is already looking at for the iPhone Duo 2 and iPhone Duo 3. One thing Apple has been actively working on is the Face ID display.
And you see, they took a bigger step towards that with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this year, where they made the Dynamic Island much smaller. They moved more components under the screen. I’m told there are already iPhone Duo 2 prototypes at Apple that have a Face ID sensor under the screen and a camera on the outside screen.
None of that is a surprise, of course. Apple typically retains features that are not profitable or that cannot be implemented the way Apple wants. The Face ID issue is probably a bit of both, so it might take a little longer to reach a production device. Gurman predicts that the problem will be resolved “with the first or second update. That is, in the next two or three years approximately.”
With iPhone Duo stocks limited and online delivery estimates already stretching into 2027, you might have to wait until next year to get your hands on one anyway. At that point, it might make more sense to simply wait for the second-generation model.
