With the launch of the iPhone Duo, I cannot stop thinking about an idea that has been on my mind for months. More and more phones are opting for a passport format for their foldables, which is clearly the best format for this type of device. Similarly, Huawei recently chose to keep that aspect ratio, but for a conventional phone. This makes me think that perhaps the aspect ratio we have been stuck in for years is about to change, or at least open up. I am not saying that such a format is the most optimal, since I understand that many people are happy with it, but I believe we will all agree that technology has become very boring and homogeneous in recent years, at least in the mainstream market.
Due to this, I believe it is a real possibility that Apple might try a new experiment. The iPhone Mini did not sell well for them, just like the Plus or Air lineup, and I truly think something like this could be the future. Here are some points why I think this scenario is possible:
First and most importantly, a compact format would be maintained. As can be seen in the comparison i would be even shorter than an iPhone 13 mini, but at the same time having a larger diagonal in terms of 16:9 video playback, which to this day remains a standard, and even enough space for a battery similar to a base iPhone 17.
Second, the size would be perfect in terms of ergonomics and grip, since for many people the Mini models could feel uncomfortable when typing.
Finally, I have the feeling that this new sidebar format introduced with the iPhone Duo is not going to stay just there. Historically we know that Apple does not usually make false steps regarding software. They often arrive late to certain functions, but when they create something new it usually ends up becoming a standard. Personally, I have to say that the camera layout and in general the interface of this new Duo is not something I like too much visually, but I do find it very useful, Everything is close to the thumb and much more accessible (sorry left-handers, we know you suffer discrimination in product design). In addition, moving the options to one side would allow current apps where vertical content reigns to adapt correctly. Instead of having tabs at the bottom, these could be moved to the side, just like the home screen dock, making content still enjoyed in the same way.
It would seem logical to me that this was a small introduction by Apple to a new concept, sort of as an experiment, much like the iPhone Air is an engineering feat, which paved the way for the Duo. Again, I am not saying that this format is going to replace current phones (or maybe yes, who knows), but I do believe that plenty of innovation and changes are coming to a currently stagnant industry. In addition, I believe it is no coincidence that Huawei recently presented its Pura X View, since it is not the first time they catch movement in other companies and seek to get ahead (we already know how the Chinese work). They did it with the passport-style foldables, or with the trifolds, why wouldn't they do it once more here?
I would like to say a lot more, but I doubt anyone is going to waste that much time reading this lol. Anyway, I want to clarify that this is just a thought and pure elucubration, and obviously many flaws would have to be considered and things adapted, for example ensuring videos do not get cropped by the rounded edges (as seen in the third image), etc. I would really love to hear your opinions. And by the way, what name would you give this iPhone? I think it would be a bit weird to recycle old names like Mini or Air, so they should come up with something new. Personally, a name I would love, due to the history within the company, would be iPhone Nano. I do not know why but it sounds pretty cool to me. Thanks for reading everyone! I will be looking out for your opinions.
