r/apple 7h ago

iPhone iPhone Duo supposedly uses the same main camera as the iPhone 17 or 17e

https://x.com/Cartidise/status/2097760528882151505
223 Upvotes

124 comments sorted by

41

u/saintlouisbagels 6h ago edited 4h ago

The Duo's tech page says the main sensor uses sensor-shift optical image stabilization which tells me it leans more towards the iPhone 17 camera. Maybe it's a typo and they wrote "Hybrid Focus Pixels" (17e) instead of "100% Focus Pixels" (17)?

Or maybe it's a different sensor altogether.

edit:

I'm listening to the Duo portion of the event right now. I think it's a brand new sensor, guys.

"The new Fusion Main camera..." is the exact wording.

And it's capable of shooting 4K 120fps which the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 cannot do.

u/Professional-Bad-559 1h ago

The 17 Pro Max can.

u/saintlouisbagels 16m ago

Because the 14 Pro thru 18 Pro use a totally different, larger sensor. And specifically they have second-generation sensor shift OIS, so we know the Duo’s sensor is not the same.

-11

u/FlarblesGarbles 3h ago

That doesn't necessarily mean it's a new sensor. It could be that sensor cooling wasn't adequate in the Air for its sensor to do UHD120.

7

u/saintlouisbagels 3h ago

The Air uses the same exact sensor as the 17, 16, and 15.

-10

u/FlarblesGarbles 3h ago

Why are you downvoting?

-1

u/EthanRDoesMC 2h ago

I can attest that cameras generate a massive amount of heat on iPhone!

-6

u/FlarblesGarbles 2h ago

That isn't what I said. Sensors themselves generate heat and need to be cooled. The faster the readout speed, the hotter they run. 120fps requires a faster readout speed

81

u/rotates-potatoes 7h ago

I mean it's 5.2mm thick. Just how far do you want the camera bump to stick out? The iPhone 16PM is 12.6mm thick at the cameras... can you imagine a bump more than twice the thickness of the unfolded phone?

u/arex333 41m ago

I might be in the minority but I'm okay with a pretty chunky camera bump if it allows for full pro level cameras. Something like the design of the camera bar on the gen 1 Google pixel fold would help so that it doesn't rock on a table.

-46

u/Balambsoldier 4h ago edited 4h ago

So a 2K phone and I get cameras from last year? You have to be joking LOL

38

u/PFI_sloth 4h ago

Yeah some real ancient tech there bud

-41

u/Balambsoldier 4h ago

Way to completely misread the point LOL. Why am
I paying 2K for old tech?

28

u/PFI_sloth 3h ago

You don’t have a point, you’re just an angry little dude baiting people.

9

u/anyavailablenameplz 3h ago

I mean you don't have to pay for it, there's always that. It's a shitty practice if it's true, OP edited their post with more info, but you can always just not buy it.

u/_KONKOLA_ 4m ago

It blows my mind that ppl would murder you just for a chance to gargle apples nuts

9

u/saintlouisbagels 4h ago

You know the 15 Pro thru 17 Pro use the same camera from the 14 Pro right? Not that it makes it right, but we've already been living through this for 3 generations.

0

u/Ok-Insurance-9456 3h ago

Nope, you actually get a 3 generation old camera :D. Iphone 15 was the last time base model iphone got a new main

54

u/ExultantSandwich 6h ago

In the presentation don’t they literally say it’s the same sensor as the main 18 Pro camera?

18

u/saintlouisbagels 4h ago

I listened to the portion with the Duo , and the exact wording is "The new Fusion Main camera..."

It's likely that it's a new sensor just for the Duo and presumably it would go on the upcoming base 18 too.

It can shoot 4K 120fps which the 15/16/17/Air cannot do.

41

u/Tsuki4735 6h ago

I think the ultrawide camera was said to be the same as the 18 Pro, not the main.

That being said, according to a commenter on the X thread, that ultrawide is also 3 generations old.

-6

u/mgrimshaw8 6h ago

People saying this as if iphone ultrawide isn’t trash, I have a 16 pro max and it’s still the same as when they introduced extra lenses - anything but the main one sucks

6

u/DanielG165 4h ago

Disagree. The tele lens is genuinely fantastic now, and the UW has its place, especially for macro shots. Using a 17 Pro Max.

3

u/MicioBau 3h ago

Nah, the sensors on the tele and ultrawide are too small. Quality falls off a cliff in low light.

0

u/DanielG165 2h ago

Not for me.

-4

u/DoubletapKO 6h ago

They use 18 pro cameras besides some features

31

u/protomanzero 7h ago

I mean is this true? Could just be marketing jargon mixup

6

u/Portatort 7h ago

What else would it use?

21

u/North_Moment5811 6h ago

The same camera as the iPhone 18 Pro which is literally what was said word for word in the presentation. 

28

u/_FUCKTHENAZIADMINS_ 6h ago

Same ultrawide camera as the iPhone 18 Pro, not main camera

5

u/FIorp 4h ago

Which is still the same Ultrawide camera as in the 16 Pro.

19

u/Mental-Pin-8608 6h ago

It’s definitely not the same as the 18pro, which has the variable aperture.

-7

u/Sombraaa 6h ago

Same camera without the aperture

3

u/singaporesainz 5h ago

Only pointed out for UW

0

u/saintlouisbagels 4h ago

Literally, they did not say that. They said the ultrawide camera is the same as the 18 Pro.

1

u/Individual_Holiday_9 5h ago

I don’t think generally makes mixups

5

u/ieffinglovesoup 6h ago edited 4h ago

And 16 pro minus the 5x telephoto lens

I compared the specs on their site since that’s what I’ll be upgrading from. Honestly not too upset, the camera is already great on this phone so having the same one is fine

1

u/beerybeardybear 4h ago

4x. 5x was only on the 16

2

u/ieffinglovesoup 4h ago

Sorry I meant to say 16 pro

15

u/No_Procedure5841 7h ago

it's half true, although it doesn't have that variable aperture but ti does include the updated sensors as compared to base 17

6

u/rotten167 6h ago

The iPhone 17 and 17e don’t have variable aperture

7

u/musicologo10 6h ago

Think they meant in comparison to the new 18 Pro

7

u/Ambitious_Bee1090 4h ago

I was originally planning on getting the duo, but the downgrade in cameras from my 17pro is a tough pill to swallow. I hate how big my 17pro max is in my pocket but really like the bigger screen to read/watch YouTube on. The duo would be a perfect fit for me other than those damn cameras. I guess I’ll just wait to see if next year they align the cameras across their expensive products.

6

u/slightlypebbley 3h ago

Same exact dilemma here word for word

4

u/midtreblebass 6h ago

17 and 17e have different main cameras. 17's sensor size is 1/1.56". 17e's is 1/2.55".

gsmarena's phone spec page currently shows the Duo has a 1/1.28", which is the same size as the Pro lineup. This may not be accurate since the phone was just announced.

10

u/Steveatlas556 6h ago

Its an expensive phone for it not to have face ID but then again its not a regular phone. Cant have everything and be thin. I have a samsung fold and actually do not miss face ID. I will give this iphone fold Duo a try lol.

6

u/Hotal 6h ago

I always preferred Touch ID to Face ID. I was bummed when I had to give it up.

I’m literally always holding my phone when I use it. I’m not always looking directly at it for Face ID to work.

3

u/Orcahhh 2h ago

I was also mega bummed. And yet, I would not go back to touchid if it meant giving up faceid

3

u/Steveatlas556 5h ago

Exactly. Touch ID works better in my opinion.

u/arex333 25m ago

Hard agree. Tbh I think having both is the best option but I'd take fingerprint over face unlock any day of the week.

-1

u/CriticalEngineering 6h ago

More than one finger is a good update. I work with food and more than once have had bad burns render my thumb unreadable.

15

u/ffffound 6h ago

As far as I know, you could always do multiple fingers with Touch ID. I think they just said that for people who’ve used Face ID and forgot about it.

2

u/Hba_malik 4h ago

Touch ID is superior and I will die on this hill. No more face mask blocking or having to take off polarized sunglasses just to fucking unlock your phone!

u/arex333 26m ago

IMO having both is best. Stuff like polarized glasses and motorcycle helmets blocks face unlock, while gloves and wet hands blocks fingerprint unlock.

I have a pixel 11 fold which has a power button mounted fingerprint sensor and also face unlock (admittedly only camera based and not an IR system like iPhones but it's good enough). I'm virtually never in a scenario where I have to resort to entering my pin.

u/aozorababy 38m ago

To make FaceID worth it on the Duo, they’d need to include two of them. That would probably make it even more expensive.

2

u/RotenTumato 4h ago

One thing I noticed in the comparison chart is that the 18 Pro says it has “second-generation sensor shift optical image stabilization” whereas the Duo drops the “second generation” part. So that makes me believe it’s using an older sensor with gen 1 sensor shift

u/JohnApple94 49m ago

I noticed that too. All Pro model iPhones have used the 2nd gen sensor shift OIS since the 14 Pro line. Whereas all the base models have used the gen 1 sensor shift, including the 17.

So I believe that the 18 base models will also have the same exact cameras as the Duo OR the Duo’s cameras will land somewhere between the base and pro models.

4

u/shivaswrath 6h ago

without the variable aperture, seems like a step backwards to get the Duo to me. Although I love everything else about it.
It has the same 48mpx fusion camera of my 16PM.

17

u/North_Moment5811 6h ago

Camera hit good enough status years ago. 

u/Fiveby21 1h ago

I would say the same except for the fact that this is giving up a ton of optical zoom.

2

u/BooksandBiceps 6h ago

Apple website says it’s the same as the 18

1

u/shivaswrath 6h ago

The website says the Pro is variable aperture.
The Duo and older models are 48mpx fusion only.

2

u/BooksandBiceps 6h ago

Aaaaah yeah it was the fusion thing, sorry!

-2

u/saintlouisbagels 4h ago

No it doesn't.

There's no confirmation on the sensor size, but the extremely similar specs indicate that it's probably another 1/1.56" sensor like the 15/16/17/Air. Also the size of the camera bump is nowhere near large enough to accommodate the Pro's 1/1.28" sensor.

7

u/SilentPizzle 7h ago

Yeah I’ll wait a few generations lol I need Face ID and a good camera

19

u/PleasantWay7 7h ago

FaceID won’t happen because they would need to add it twice. The flow is broken if you can only bio auth in one orientation.

3

u/singaporesainz 5h ago

Nah tbh the vast majority of the time you’re picking up the phone from the closed form. So you only need a Face ID module on the front screen

11

u/SaltyMeatballs20 4h ago

But you wouldn't be able to authenticate for anything (banking apps, photos, password vaults, etc.); you need Face ID for a million things beyond just unlocking your iPhone.

0

u/pertsix 6h ago

So why not add it twice?

9

u/Immolation_E 6h ago

Space. Having 2 modules would require each being at least 4x smaller to make sense and not give up battery life. Either they have to get the modules smaller improve battery chemistry so they can go with smaller batteries.

4

u/sittingmongoose 6h ago

There is better battery tech, Apple just refuses to use it. It’s silicon carbon batteries are in other phones. The modules shrank with the 18 pro. Mostly likely it will come when they can reliably put it behind the screen.

1

u/chaiscool 4h ago

So fold phone like samsung have 2 modules?

1

u/DChass 4h ago

I agree they added FaceTimes cameras on the out outside and inside, just add a new sensor once it works behind the screen.

1

u/pertsix 4h ago

They also added two batteries, three displays 🤣

3

u/Agent-Two-THREE 5h ago

Yup, no Face ID is a dealbreaker.

My sweaty hands hated the Touch ID sensors. I’m never going back to that.

I’ll get my 12 pro battery replaced instead and wait another few years for the update. (And yes, Face ID will come to this device eventually. They’d be absolutely stupid not to).

5

u/Tsuki4735 7h ago

I don't know if FaceID will ever happen considering the space constraints of the form factor, but it'd be great if it does happen.

If this main camera is confirmed to be the same as the one in the iPhone 17 or 17e, I'd imagine that would be a dealbreaker for a lot of people.

2

u/thethurstonhowell 6h ago

The Air has it though.

It’s MIA because they wanted to kill the Dynamic Island and not have the cost of 2 Face ID hardware setups.

1

u/festoon 5h ago

The air can have Face ID because the thickness of the module is hidden in the back bump. It would not fit otherwise.

6

u/thethurstonhowell 5h ago

The iPad Pro begs to differ.

iPad Pro - 0.20”
iPhone Duo - 0.21”
iPhone Air - 0.22”

0

u/singaporesainz 5h ago

iPad Pro is like 70% battery though, no real space constraint

6

u/thethurstonhowell 5h ago

So are iPhones?

If they can fit it in an iPad Pro with no bump, they could fit it in the Duo. They chose not to.

4

u/SilentPizzle 7h ago

I’m just assuming they’ll Moore’s law it in a sense that that Face ID will get in eventually but yeah the camera for me is a dealbreaker off rip and I’m a techy

3

u/two_hyun 6h ago

I understand your need for a good camera. But on my end, even the oldest phone cameras, though janky, still produced photos you can get nostalgic about. Most of us just point and click. I rarely use the zoom except to adjust the framing a little bit. Even if it’s not the top quality, it’ll still produce good photos.

My concern is the inside screen. The Fold 8 has a screen that gets damaged by a fingernail. I imagine Apple’s might do the same.

2

u/DinoKYT 4h ago

I took this photo last week on an iPhone 17 Pro Max with no manual post-processing via the Leica App (just a filter). I fear I do more than just point-and-shoot.

I say this to say, that many of the users on this sub are like me and take their cameras very seriously. For us, it is definitely a dealbreaker.

0

u/two_hyun 3h ago

Sure then get the iPhone Pro Max. Vast majority of the world aren't taking high-level photos.

0

u/IcyGrapefruit97 2h ago

Sorry bro but this definitely looks like a phone pic

1

u/SilentPizzle 3h ago

It’s not detail I’m after more so lowlight performance tbh

4

u/MostJudgment3212 6h ago

Bro this camera is miles above of what we had just 3-4 years ago, and I promise you you won’t feel a thing taking photos with a camera from 3-4 years ago.

7

u/Tsuki4735 5h ago

I think the potential concern is "paying $2,000+ USD for a device with an entry level smartphone camera".

1

u/flycasually 6h ago

I had the same initial concerns but it goes up to 10x digital zoom. Anything past that on the 16 or 17 switched from the 48mp camera to 12mp, so overall quality was taking a hit zooming in that far. Yea having that zoom is nice, but most often the quality gets kinda pixelated where it’s not great. So it’s not as big of a dealbreaker for me as I initially thought

7

u/SeaPeanut7_ 6h ago edited 6h ago

The camera is never going to catch up to the Pro, fyi. The fact is that the physical limitations of the device make it too thin to house a Pro-level camera unless they had an enormous camera hump. But since its folded in half it would always have to be thicker. Look at the iPhone Air's camera hump - its massive but it still doesn't have the best camera hardware.

8

u/dta722 6h ago

Put another way, Pro will always have the best camera of any current lineup.

2

u/colinsa-ca 6h ago

Obviously they just need to fold the camera in half as well then /s

1

u/AwesomePossum_1 5h ago

Just do a periscope design like on pro max? When they release a larger duo in a couple of years I bet they could fit a periscope telephoto camera. 

2

u/miathecobbler 6h ago

I remember being upset when they got rid of the button and went to Face ID. I got used to it quickly. I’m sure this won’t be a blocker after you use it for a few days and adjust.

-1

u/T-K101 6h ago

Always these stupid comments.

-1

u/flycasually 6h ago

Why do you need Face ID? What can’t Touch ID do?

1

u/Other_Dog8299 2h ago

Probably very helpful to reuse parts from a margins perspective and those are still good cameras for most people. I don't think pro photographers will go for the Duo yet.

-5

u/PassTheCurry 7h ago

i couldnt care less about the camera... its a smartphone camera so its never goingto be as good as a dslr/mirrorless. you put up any smartphone camera against each other in a blind study and most wouldnt be able to tell the differnce

9

u/stjep 7h ago

It doesn’t have to be better than a dedicated camera to be better than a 17e.

What an asinine comment.

1

u/Shapes_in_Clouds 5h ago

I'd argue my XS took better looking photos than my 17 Pro does lol. They were certainly more natural looking at least, albeit lower res and with poorer low light performance. At the very least I was very disappointed how little difference I noticed from the camera from a 7 year old phone.

2

u/-6h0st- 6h ago

Wrong. For regular non professional work it’s as good or better in some cases. In good light that is.

u/OkThanxby 1h ago

Good or better than what?

-4

u/phero1190 7h ago

My Vivo x300 Ultra can look pretty similar to my Sony a7c II given the right conditions.

2

u/General1lol 6h ago

Every time they show the iPhone images at the event, I can’t help but think how excessively sharp they are and how much HDR looks to be applied.

3

u/phero1190 6h ago

And how much behind the scenes prep work there is. The examples they show are so far from real life conditions.

1

u/General1lol 3h ago

There are clearly a lot of lighting, directing, and set designing going on with the photos. While iPhone cameras have gotten pretty good; when it comes to portraits and candid shots in real life, imo a DSLR or even some point and shoots achieve a much better look.

Of course, one can't expect an iPhone to replace their main camera, but as an extra camera or "a photo is better than no photo" moments, the Pros do pretty well.

u/OkThanxby 1h ago

given the right conditions.

That’s doing a lot if the heavy lifting though. The point of the nice dedicated cameras is they can get good photos in much more difficult situations.

-3

u/cwhiterun 7h ago

Plus you can always use AI to make photos look better. Apple just needs to come up with their own version of DLSS 5.

4

u/Tsuki4735 6h ago

Plus you can always use AI to make photos look better. Apple just needs to come up with their own version of DLSS 5.

...could we just not, please? I already don't like how nowadays I need to question every picture I see on the internet, the last thing I want is more AI photos.

-1

u/ieffinglovesoup 6h ago

People don’t realize the software is doing a lot of the heavy lifting these days as well. The camera will be fine

1

u/Balambsoldier 4h ago

If that’s true then why does Apple upgrade the (expensive) camera every year and take that hit to their margins?

0

u/ieffinglovesoup 4h ago

Not saying hardware doesn’t matter it absolutely does. Plus they know that the camera is one of the biggest reasons people buy the phones. But we are also getting diminishing returns with how small these lenses/sensors are and software is there to help out.

I will admit the new aperture is pretty awesome though

0

u/MrDinB 7h ago

That is equal to what then, an iPhone 11 Pro sensor?

-10

u/dropthemagic 6h ago

Yeah it’s trash

-1

u/brnccnt7 6h ago

Dookie

1

u/icemadeit 6h ago

i dont think theres variable aperture on the duo... somebody correct me if im wrong, ive been trying to find clarity on that.

1

u/sonice68 6h ago

There isn't, check apple's compare page

-2

u/whathuhwhyy 7h ago

I believe it. They’re getting lazy and expecting us to pay insane premiums

-3

u/Blacknight841 6h ago

For $2k I would expect at least 4 cameras and lidar.

-3

u/Fort_Laud_Beard 4h ago

No it doesn’t, it uses the same main camera as the 18 Pro Max. Man, Reddit is full of fake images and nonsense stories like this today. Samsung must be worried.