iPhone Duo: Fixed sidebar leaves 15 percent of cover screen unused
The device's 5.4-inch display loses usable space to a permanent right-side dock, a design choice that differs from the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
By Andrew Fletcher ·
Fifteen percent of the iPhone Duo's 5.4-inch cover screen remains unavailable to the user. Apple places a fixed sidebar and dock on the right side of the outer display. This design choice reduces the area available for primary content. The limitation persists regardless of the app in use.
The iPhone Duo serves as Apple's first wide foldable smartphone. The hardware features a large internal display and a smaller outer screen. However, the software implementation has drawn attention from early users. Critics argue that the operating system does not fully utilize the available real estate on the smaller panel.
Allison Johnson of The Verge reviewed the device and noted usability differences compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. She observed that the iPhone Duo feels harder to handle with one hand. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a taller, narrower physical profile. This shape makes the cover screen easier to navigate for many users. Johnson noted that this distinction matters for people who rely on the outer display for daily tasks.
A comparison on social media highlights the screen space difference. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers a full-width display when using navigation gestures. The iPhone Duo retains the sidebar even when gestures are active. On the Samsung device, setting a navigation bar instead of gestures reduces the visual disparity. For users who prefer gestures, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 wastes very little screen space.
Apple designed the sidebar to make navigation simpler. The strategy shrinks the available display area to stretch media content vertically. This mimics the aspect ratio of a traditional slab device. The approach aims to simplify the user interface but at the cost of screen real estate. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 demonstrates an alternative method where the full screen remains open for content.
The iPhone Duo is currently available but with limited stock. Samsung continues to sell the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as a successful product in the foldable market. The contrast between the two devices offers a direct look at competing strategies for wide foldable screens. Both companies are refining their software to match their hardware form factors.
Source: 9to5Google
