This week on the channel +800K views this week

Mark Ellis finds a pocket paperback in the iPhone Duo

His full review favours the inner display for reading, but finds the cover-screen layout harder to like.

Channel:

Mark Ellis Reviews Story of November 9, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.

iPhone Duo Review: A Big Surprise

Things we can learn from the video

Press to jump

2:27Ellis praises the inner display's anti-glare finish and minimal crease.
3:28Portrait orientation makes the unfolded phone appealing for reading and typing.
5:15Tent mode supports a tabletop display, alongside StandBy and Apple Pencil compatibility.
8:40The cover display's narrow app column and missing vertical split-screen multitasking are his main software complaints.
10:31Ellis would prefer an action button to camera control and notes the missing telephoto lens.
12:39Cautious buyers should try the cover display in a shop and consider foldable-screen durability, Ellis says.

Could a folding phone earn its place by being a better place to read? For Mark Ellis, that is a substantial part of the iPhone Duo's appeal. In "iPhone Duo Review: A Big Surprise", he praises the nano-texture inner display, its subdued crease and the experience of reading and typing with it held in portrait orientation.

The review was the most watched of his five uploads this week, reaching roughly 189,000 views. It also carries the strongest daily momentum on the channel. The video includes a sponsored Anker charger segment, separate from Ellis's phone verdict.

His enthusiasm has limits. He dislikes the narrow app column on the cover display and the absence of vertical split-screen multitasking. He would also trade the camera control for an action button. That makes this a more useful follow-up to his earlier passport-sized comparison: less about how the Duo fits in a pocket, more about what happens once it is open.

Viewers bring their own reading habits into the discussion. One describes rediscovering the pleasure of carrying a paperback everywhere; others ask for apps to fill more of the screen or suggest an auto-hiding sidebar. Tent mode gets a practical mention too, as a way to leave photos and the time on display.

Apple supplied much of the rest of the week's material, with "iPad mini 8 Review: I Didn't Expect This" and a separate unboxing. Ellis also covered Audio Technica's noise-cancelling headphones and went hands-on with Motorola's flagship in Hawaii.

The channel added 2,000 subscribers over the week, though daily views are currently below their usual pace. Nearby tech channels Joe Cirillo and JJ Shankles drew larger weekly audiences, while EposVox had a quieter week. Within Ellis's own catalogue, the iPad mini review follows the Duo for daily views, with October's Apple HomeView first impressions supplying the strongest older-video momentum.

Published on Trari

Where next?

Also in Technology reviews and gadgetsVideo surging 6.3x the video's usual paceMETA PCs asks what makes a frame rate "unplayable"Coworkers give very different answers, while viewers make the case for smooth performance over a bigger number.Channel: META PCs · Story of November 9, 2026

A different discovery todayVideo taking off 12x its usual first dayKenan Thompson's Jeffries has a warning for Trump: "Knock it off, buster"SNL's post-midterm cold open crowds Trump, Vance, Hegseth and a real James Talarico into the Democrats' champagne party.Channel: Saturday Night Live · Story of November 9, 2026

What viewers say

I was looking forward to using it as an e-reader. I didn't know how much I would love it. The screen in portrait is basically a paperback! Who'd have thought, as a kid I always had a paperback crammed in my pocket. Now I carry one with me everywhere!
@RichardServelloSee it on YouTube
I love mine. I’m hoping more apps get updated soon. I too would like to see the whole screen filled. They should have an auto-hide side bar setting.
@NealDannenbergSee it on YouTube
Tent mode standby is one of the features I use most. Leave it with photos and time and it sits there all day, just chugging along being beautiful.
@ContraryRhombusSee it on YouTube

7 more comments

Really appreciate your honesty here, and you reviewing products from the perspective of the common consumer instead of other reviewers who do so from their own perspective or their crowd.
@NYRfan4everSee it on YouTube
I appreciate the honesty and down-to-earth nature of this review, as much of a techie as I am it is nice to see a more 'real-world' angle to the review. Thanks!
@Shahil51See it on YouTube
I'm someone who despises fingerprints and smudges on my screen so I definitely agree with you regarding the inner display. Foldables made sense to me, even at $2000, when I realized that it could replace my phone, laptop, and tablet.
@waywardwestSee it on YouTube
Absolutely loving my Duo. It’s been such a joy to use. The most fun I’ve had with the iPhone in years.
@AL_917See it on YouTube
I've had mine for roughly a week and am absolutely loving it! Such a nice breath of fresh air from the ProMax!
@vacguy77See it on YouTube
The screen looks like the same texture as my kindle paper white! Very neat
@jennalapointeSee it on YouTube
Fantastic review! Mine won’t arrive until next year, so insights like yours are really helpful for understanding what it’s like to use this device.
@MrJayNCSee it on YouTube