iPhone Duo sidebar locks away 15 percent of its small cover screen

Apple’s new iPhone Duo restricts its 5.4-inch cover display with a fixed sidebar, a design choice that early testers say limits the device's usability. A review from The Verge found that the sidebar occupies roughly 15 percent of the outer screen. This leaves a large portion of the display unused for main content, a contrast that stands out when compared to Samsung's competing foldable.

The comparison centers on how each company handles navigation on a small external screen. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 allows users to utilize nearly the entire outer display for apps and media. When gesture navigation is enabled, the screen space is almost fully available. Apple’s approach on the iPhone Duo is different. A permanent dock sits on the right side of the cover display. This design choice shrinks the area available for apps, making the screen feel cramped despite its 5.4-inch size.

Allison Johnson of The Verge noted that the iPhone Duo feels harder to use with one hand than the Galaxy Z Fold 8. She cited the physical dimensions of the devices as a factor. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is taller and narrower, which aids one-handed operation. The iPhone Duo is wider, a trait that complicates single-hand control. Johnson also pointed out that the fixed sidebar on the iPhone Duo serves as a space-saving measure intended to make media appear taller, similar to a standard slab phone. However, the trade-off is the loss of horizontal space for content.

The difference in screen utilization is visible in side-by-side video comparisons. When the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is set to use a navigation bar instead of gestures, the difference in wasted space is less obvious. However, for users who prefer gesture controls, the Fold 8 keeps the outer screen clear. The iPhone Duo’s sidebar remains fixed regardless of user preference, locking away that portion of the display. This creates a noticeable gap between the two devices in terms of outer screen functionality.

Apple’s entry into the wide foldable market is its first attempt at this specific form factor. Samsung has refined its Android implementation on foldable devices over several years, improving how the operating system scales on larger screens. The iPhone Duo represents Apple’s initial effort in this space, and early impressions suggest the software has not yet fully adapted to the hardware constraints. The device is already available for purchase, though stock is currently limited.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 continues to see strong adoption, with its flexible screen management cited as a key advantage. The iPhone Duo aims to compete with that success, but the fixed sidebar may deter users who value maximum screen real estate on the outer display. The two devices offer different philosophies for small-screen navigation, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 prioritizing open space and the iPhone Duo prioritizing a structured, if restrictive, layout.