The first iPhone Duo’s 5.2 mm unfolded profile delivers the kind of portability that makes a foldable easier to carry, but it also explains two of its most conspicuous omissions: Face ID and a dedicated telephoto camera. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes those features may not arrive until a third-generation model.
That is Gurman’s assessment rather than an Apple roadmap. His view is that the second-generation Duo could focus on refinement, while a more substantial hardware jump might wait for Duo 3.
Thin hardware leaves little room for extra camera and biometric systems
Apple’s current approach reflects the space constraints inside the foldable. The iPhone Duo uses Touch ID in its side button instead of the deeper sensor array required for Face ID. Its rear camera system has two cameras, with 2x zoom produced from the 48-megapixel main sensor rather than through a separate telephoto module. Apple’s official specifications list the device at 254 grams.
There is already substantial hardware competing for room in the chassis, including two batteries, a vapor chamber, the hinge, and components for the pair of displays. The Duo also has an under-display FaceTime camera on its inner screen, but that camera does not replace the TrueDepth system needed for Face ID authentication.
Smaller components and computational processing could be the path forward
Gurman does not expect Apple simply to make the Duo thicker to restore the missing capabilities. Instead, he anticipates a combination of further component miniaturization and AI-based processing that could allow smaller sensors to handle facial recognition and photography while computational imaging offsets some hardware limitations.
He also believes Apple could preview a more compact facial-recognition approach in its future smart-home hub before bringing it to the foldable line. For now, the original Duo remains a clear example of the compromise behind an exceptionally thin foldable: it prioritizes a slim, lighter-to-carry design over the full biometric and optical hardware found in less space-constrained devices. Whether that balance changes with Duo 2 or waits for Duo 3 remains unconfirmed.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
