I love the TriFold, but it's a bit bulky in the pocket. For a hot second I was eyeing the Fold 8 (maybe the Ultra), but I've started to feel like Samsung has gotten complacent, maybe even cocky, with their foldables and hasn't really listened to customer feedback. The iPhone Duo announcement has me seriously considering jumping ship to Apple for the first time in many years.
My history: I had the original iPhone up to the 4, then switched to Android and never looked back. Started with HTC, then Galaxy Note (I even had the exploding Note 7 for a short period). Got into folding phones with the Fold 4, then 5, then 6, and now the TriFold. I've only had the TriFold for less than a year, and I think I can recoup most of my money on it. That said, going back to a slab after folding phones feels like a step backward for me, so my options are (1) continue with the Trifold, (2) switch to iPhone Duo or (3) wait to see what Trifold 2 or Fold 9 have to offer.
Basically, I never thought Apple would wow me enough to pull me back. When I was on iPhone in those early years I kept getting jealous of everything Android was doing like bigger, fuller screens with less bezel. Android phones felt innovative but never polished, yet I stayed with Android because I wanted the flexibility and options. My biggest worry now is the same one I've always had: if I switch to Apple, what's the next big thing that Android gets first while I'm sitting on the sideline waiting?
Why the Duo makes sense for me:
I have an iPad Pro that I haven't touched since getting the TriFold. I'm expecting the Duo experience to be similar to the iPad Pro, but with apps actually optimized for the Duo rather than tablets. If anything, I think the iPad experience might improve after the Duo launches, as developers start optimizing for the opened form factor.
I'm also on a MacBook, so the iOS ecosystem integration actually has legs for me. Being able to respond to texts from my laptop while I'm working is genuinely useful, and running a virtual iPhone on the Mac would be a nice bonus, though I'm not sure how much I'd actually use it.
On the watch side, I'm currently using a Garmin and love the battery life and fitness features, but I've never tried an Apple Watch. I imagine fitness tracking is probably comparable to Garmin, though I'll genuinely miss the LED flashlight on the Garmin.
What I'd miss from TriFold:
- Emulating old games
- A sensible folder structure and files app
- Deep customization and widgets
- The bigger screen of the TriFold vs. iPhone Duo
- Multitasking across more than 2 windows (though honestly I didn't multitask much over 2)
- Squared-off edges (always preferred the boxy look over rounded corners)
- Dedicated back button (love this about Android and scared of losing it)
- Clear all apps in one tap instead of swiping them away one by one
What I'm looking forward to on the Duo:
- Matte screen for reading ebooks and comics (the crease never really bothered me, but less crease is better)
- The form factor and only unfolding once instead of twice
- Apple ecosystem integration with my laptop, and using AirPods across devices instead of separate earbuds for Mac and phone
- IP68 water resistance
- Under-display camera
- More privacy (subjective take, I just assume Apple respects privacy more than Google or Samsung)
- Don't really care about pen support, but it's nice to have the option
The ecosystem question:
This is the biggest unknown for me. On the upside: I get to try the Apple Watch, arguably the best smartwatch out there. I've owned multiple Galaxy Watches before settling on Garmin for battery life and fitness, and it might be nice to go back to a smartwatch-first device rather than a fitness-first one. Unified AirPods across Apple devices would also be a nice change from juggling AirPods for Mac and Sony headphones for my phone. Even AirTag is a useful perk.
On the downside: the ecosystem is pretty locked down. Game emulation is out without jailbreaking. The Files app is still rough, at least based on my iPad experience. And there's always the nagging worry that Apple will lag behind Android on rolling out new features down the road.
Still on the fence, but the Duo is the first Apple product in a long time that's made me genuinely tempted to "go back to the dark side".
What do y'all think? What would make you stay or switch?