Video taking off 15x its usual first day

Andrew Ethan Zeng weighs iPhone Duo fun against costly compromises

His week-long review finds strong battery life and enjoyable gaming, but awkward apps and repair costs complicate the appeal.

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Andrew Ethan Zeng Story of October 29, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 143,348 views a day, 15 times a normal first day on this channel (9,746).

iPhone Duo – 1 Week Later: An HONEST Review

Things we can learn from the video

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0:46The folding format supports hands-free viewing, two-way FaceTime calls and a StandBy desk clock.
3:28Zeng examines the inner display and discusses owners' reports of cracking along the fold.
5:14Glitchy apps, clipped interfaces and rigid split-screen layouts undermine the software experience.
6:37Gaming and emulation highlight the phone's performance and portable folding format.
8:54Battery endurance impresses him, though he notes wireless charging alignment trouble in Tesla vehicles.
11:55His verdict: the Duo is enjoyable, but its trade-offs prevent a recommendation over a standard Pro.

"We're paying $2,000 for this phone, and apps look like they've been opened on the wrong device," Andrew Ethan Zeng says of the iPhone Duo. That frustration sits alongside genuine enjoyment in his review of Apple's first foldable iPhone, a device he finds exciting without being convinced it is the better buy.

The review has drawn about 57,000 views in six hours, already several times the channel's usual full-day audience for a regular video. It follows his launch-day unboxing and shorter looks at the Duo's gaming, interface and iPod-inspired wallpapers. Here, the question moves from what the phone can do to what it is like to live with.

There are practical pleasures: hands-free viewing, two-way FaceTime calls and a compact outer screen. Gaming and emulation suit the folding format, while battery endurance earns clear praise. But Zeng also finds glitchy apps, clipped interfaces and split-screen arrangements that are less flexible than he wants. He discusses owners' reports of cracks along the fold, rather than reporting that his own screen broke.

The compromises extend beyond software. He misses Face ID, notes camera limitations compared with the iPhone 18 Pro and examines steep repair costs. By the conclusion, the fun has not persuaded him that the trade-offs are worthwhile over a standard Pro model.

Viewers are weighing similar choices. Some describe keeping or returning their Duo; another says they would use the outer display more than the unfolded one. One commenter turns the cancellation debate into a delivery joke: if everyone really canceled, why is their order still due in December?

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What viewers say

If everyone who said they were going to cancel their order actually did, I wouldn’t still have a December ship date. Come on people, cancel already.
@TherapyByThrottleSee it on YouTube
2:39 yeah I had the exact same thought when I tried it in store a few days ago. I'd use the outer display more than the folded out display and I prefer the passport style design over slab phones
@klyro-01-i1zSee it on YouTube
I really like some of the practical side of the iPhone Duo, but the price tag is putting me off somehow… love the honest and cinematic review as always!
@tys221See it on YouTube

2 more comments

haven't finished watching but loving the real life living with perspective of the review so far
@Jscauri-z8gSee it on YouTube
Helpful analysis. I think I'll wait for Duo2 and see what that looks like.
@jordanthecatSee it on YouTube

Public comments from the video's page on YouTube