My First Few Days With the iPhone Duo

In my last post, I was waiting for my iPhone Duo to arrive. It came the other day, and I have been getting used to it while building new apps for it.

I am coming from an iPhone 17 Pro Max, so there has been some adjusting. So far, though, my experience has been great.

I Use It More Folded

The thing I have noticed most is that I use the Duo folded more often than unfolded. I have the option to open it up, but most of the time I have been happy using it closed.

That has been an interesting part of getting used to it. I spend time thinking about apps for the larger display, then pick up the phone and find myself using the smaller one. Having the actual device in my hands gives me something to think about as I keep building: the folded experience deserves just as much attention.

Battery life has been great so far, too. I am only a few days in, so this is an early impression, but I have been happy with it.

Where I Miss the Pro Max Camera

The camera is where I have noticed a tradeoff, especially when zooming in.

This past Saturday, I was trying to take a photo of Courtney playing soccer. When I zoomed in, the result was definitely not as good as what I was used to getting from the Pro Max.

That is the kind of difference I notice more than anything on a spec sheet. I want to get a good photo of her playing, and in that moment I missed the Pro Max’s zoom.

It has not changed how much I am enjoying the Duo overall, but it is the clearest thing I miss about my old phone so far.

Building Apps and Texting Will

Alongside getting used to the phone, I have been building new apps for it. That has been a big part of the fun of having it here: using the device while working on things for it.

My workflow lately has been texting Will through iMessage. Will is my dot agent from ChatGPT, and messaging him has become part of how I work on ideas. Then I have Codex and Claude build for me.

I am enjoying that rhythm: texting about what I want to make, having the coding agents build it, and getting to try it on the phone I am actually using.

There is still plenty to get used to, and I will have more to say after spending longer with it. For now, I am happy with the switch. I have been using it mostly folded, the battery has been great, and I have more apps I want to build. I just miss that Pro Max zoom when Courtney is out on the soccer field.