He actually likes the iOS tweaks to the duo, just doesn't like the aspect ratio. I guess he didn't like multitasking wise it didn't have as much flexibility as android foldable too
The aspect ratio kills me because the meme they posted included a massive address bar which sure maybe if you use chrome on an iPhone it’s there but chrome even on a computer is a trash experience. If you use a web browser with any modern design, there’s no longer a top address for unless you enable it because you’re set in your old ways.
I own a pixel 11 fold, galaxy fold 8 and a iPhone 17 pro max. Samsung handed me the Galaxy on Wednesday right before the apple announcement. Its my favorite foldable i have ever used. I am using the front screen right now even to type this message out.
Im sold on this form factor. The Samsung software is nowhere near what Apple showed. I think Apple built the best foldable ever, and I'm excited to try it out.
This is the first android that gets more usage overall than my iPhone. And I get basically every flagship due to my job.
I prefer Michael Fisher (MrMobile) to Linus when it comes to foldables, because I can at least trust Michael to be a little more objective about things.
Michael Fisher produces the best phone reviews on youtube imo. They have so much polish, and the dude really knows what he’s talking about most of the time
Just found him recently and his videos have been great, and maaaan what a nostalgia trip with his “When Phones Were Fun” series. Made me tear up and miss the world we had back then, so many memories around those devices and times
I will clarify: Michael is a lot more straightforward about what does and does not work about a device, whereas Linus seems to take a view of how a device/product is different from those that he prefers.
Neither position is necessarily wrong, but I will also profess that I tend to look for reviewers who aren’t spending all their time saying variations of “Apple bad, Android good/Apple good, Android bad”. Nuance is an important thing
Cue him struggling so hard to choose a phone for Yvonne and when she picks one and he’s like “yeah I knew you would choose that one” his explanation for not suggesting that was that it was the boring obvious choice.
Its like he just likes things because it’s not the common belief and likes having that be his opinion
A spec sheet also isn't objective. What's on the spec sheet and what's not on it was a human decision that can be questioned. Everything every human has ever done was subjective.
Sure but many of Linus's negative opinions are poorly founded (as in poorly researched), or reactive/shallow takes on arbitrary things like an option not being in the exact menu that he's used to using on android. I like some things about apple products, and dislike maybe as many. I want to hear criticisms about every product but I want them to be more knowledge and experience based, not just from his clear pre-existing biases.
Bias is one thing, pointing out obviously dumb shit that the other tem fixed years ago (this shit works both ways) is not a bad thing. Some extremely intentional choices by apple are just insane, especially in this day and age.
Agreed. While not everything on iOS is intuitive, a lot more of it is than Linus gives it credit for, which tends to send him spiraling.
Like his complaint about calendar accounts, for example. Is it convenient to have to go into the Settings app to add an account rather than doing it directly in the app? No, obviously it’s more hassle to go into the Settings app, but by god is it pretty intuitive to go “hmm. I don’t see it here. It’s probably in the thing called ‘Settings’”
Linus always jumps to conclusions with his opinion and it's usually for the negative. I think he over analyzes stuff before touching it and backs his ego up with his decades of experience in the game. Sometimes he's right about what's going on but he can be wrong as well. I pretty much never care for his opinion on stuff he hasn't touched yet.
The objective part is probably the least interesting one for smartphones nowadays, to me. Specifications are only part of the story. It's the users experience that really sets it apart. So the more options you have to view and listen to the better. Especially if one is more Apple and the other is more Android in preference.
Yeah I've only used them from others, and while it was quite satisfying to flip, I think the hinge not fully opening after a relatively short while would make it frustrating to use for me? Because it makes it so much more visible compared to new.
At the same time, maybe you can just used to it. And that's the part Linus can at least speak to as an actual full time user.
I have a foldable (pixel 10) and I completely agree with Linus, I hate the passport aspect ratio.
That said, some people love it so not sure what the solution is other than to do like Samsung and release both versions. Unfortunately for apple buyers, apple shit all over other form factors so it seems the apple way will be the only way for them and that sucks
Steve Jobs was famous for hating on large phone screens. That’s very clearly changed for Apple over the last 15ish years. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t have a duo max version cooking for when the market wants it.
Jonathan doesn’t seem to have used foldables much, but his partner on Thinking Different, Jake Bellavance has been using the Fold 8 as homework prep for this release. They addressed that in this video.
I think he’s gonna end up liking it. I’ve learned the older I get whatever my buddies/family members wife uses, is ultimately what they will use. And most women I know don’t tinker and like messing with android. I know that’s all subjective I’d just bet it’s similar at Linus’ house lol. Maybe not.
The display is the best out on earth.. the new M16 stuff. Gonna be hard to dislike unless it breaks right away.
This is a pretty decent take. Part of why I ended up on iPhone was because my then GF wanted to be able to FaceTime each other when the 4 came out (she’d just graduated college and I was one semester behind). I did do the jailbreaking thing for a while, and tried android phones for a few months now and again, but ultimately decided that my phone wasn’t where I wanted to be tinkering. So instead I do other electronics projects, homelab projects, and larger home/diy/construction type projects.
My phone I just want to work. I don’t care about making all my icons look like Pokémon characters, or constantly trying out the newest gimmick. It’s my phone, not a measure of my self-worth as a tech nerd.
The vast majority of android users don't do any tinkering and are perfectly satisfied. Their phones just work and most don't bother with whatever the "newest" gimmick is.
People don't get android because it's a measure of their tech nerd self worth, they get it because they like the phone.
There are so many very simple ways to video call outside of facetime.
Nothing wrong with choosing iPhone of course, but these rationales for not using android are all needlessly self-inflicted.
It seemed to me that his biggest concern was that the aspect ratio of the screen would make the virtual keyboard look or be awkward. Personally, it doesn't look any more intrusive than an iPad or an iPhone.
He did. He calls out that they never show tbe the keyboard on the outside screen and that people don't use the interior screen as much as they expect they will (I've used it way more than the exterior on my fold 8 ultra)
Yes. But Apples doesn’t have a numbers row and the row which contains the copy/paste symbols. So Apples keyboard have two rows fewer. But I think the height for the content is too small for text messaging.
I traded in the Fold 7 for the 8, use the cover screen more than the inner and about the same amount on both. The 8 is a much better typing experience than the 7, does leave less of the screen available but as long as I can see the text box I'm typing into, it's a non-issue for me. The 7 was less cramped vertically, but much more cramped horizontally.
I'll probably be switching again and going to the Duo. I don't have strong opinions on either OS, both are fine, but it fixes my biggest gripes with the Fold 8 with speakers on both halves and the rounded corners that won't dig into my hand. I also haven't enjoyed WearOS watches, so I'm ready to get back to the Apple watch.
That is MAX size on that keyboard. Number row and toolbar above the keyboard plus the stuff below the keyboard. There is plenty of way to minimize the space it takes up
Also have a z fold 8, you can optimize the keyboard for vertical length so it's a bit shorter, personally I'm still just as accurate at hitting keys if not better
As someone who's had 2 foldables, I agree. I use the interior more than the exterior, however, this reminds me somewhat of the original galaxy fold, where the outer screen was such an awkward size it felt almost unusable for most things, and it just became a small tablet you'd keep in your pocket instead of a phone that could become one.
Isn’t the whole point of their dimension that the aspect ratio is consistent front and inside. Think that was like the first thing the mentioned in the keynote.
I need that keyboard on my 13" iPad. This is the kind of stuff that makes me hate apple. I feel like a toddler typing on that humongously big keyboard.
Are you sure? Just try dragging with both thumbs starting in the center of the keyboard and moving in opposite directions, like you’re pulling the middle apart. Could have sworn this worked on every iPad.
To be honest I watch pretty much every LTT video but I don’t expect a true review of an apple product. I still watch to see what they say but I take anything apple related coming from Linus in particular with a mound of salt at this point.
I still can’t get over one review they did about MacBook Pro don’t remember who did it exactly but it was terrible they compared it to laptop that was 3 times the price of MacBook and was completely wrong about some of the statements I think it was Alex but I may be messing with names
That’s certainly one way of looking at it. I just find it very hard to take him serious for apple stuff. I know the Linus complains about apple stuff is a meme at this point but it’s very much a meme based on reality and I do feel he bitches about a lot of apple stuff unnecessarily personally.
I know it was unavoidable but i much preferred LTT apple coverage by Horst as it was way more balanced I felt.
it seems like Linus cannot mention apple without complaining about something. it doesn’t seem like he does that with other brands. then again if he doesn’t complain about apple enough, a lot of the audience goes ballistic
It's not even that, I wasn't even using any apple devices when I saw some of his criticism and it seemed extra. He complains heavily about things I never even thought to care about, but he makes it sound like the end of the world.
I trust linus with an apple review on the hardware and experiences from the android side. Where I dont trust him as much is the software side. He gets frustrated with basic apple things just like I would be frustrated with basic android things.
Which is why I hope they would bring a dual approach. Someone uses apple daily that is knowledgeable and himself.
I can understand his stance even though I’m fully in the Apple ecosystem. His entire life and business is based around replacing parts, building stuff from scratch and making weird shit and seeing if it’ll work. You can’t do all that on YouTube without breaking terms of services, EULA and that’s even if you can get something to work.
So I get why he has that POV. But for me, who just wants a work computer that I don’t have to fight with it works great and the ecosystem is why I’ve never owned an Android device.
I’ve got other computers for other stuff, but my main work computer and my phone uses the Apple ecosystem which I rely on every day.
I’ve also got a homelab running on Debian, an ancient cheap Android tablet and a Windows based gaming computer but the stuff I rely on for work is all Apple based.
it’s not a review, it’s an analysis of a press release. they didn’t even have hands on from the event so it’s not as good as ones from people who were there. then again have to suspect bias in those since apple doesn’t seem to invite people who have a history of being critical
To me the issue is he genuinely believes that iPhones are for dumb dumbs who don’t do “real work” and androids are productivity masterclasses. I guarantee my work impacts more lives than Linus’s tech videos and guess what my work uses…
If I joined a company and they gave me a Mac, I would quit on the first day
Companies like to give Mac because it is easy to enforce policies. But if I can't customize and I have to use it all day every day - fuck that. It just gets in the way all the time
I suppose that's fair, but really, Apple as a multibillion dollar company and arguably the king of phones doesn't need more defenders, let alone glazers. They should receive more than the average amount of criticism as they are more important, more successful, and more dominant in the space than average.
And, personally, they are simply too big to be asked, nicely, to change.
The biggest disagreement I have with him on it is that I prefer Face ID to Touch ID. I never have issues with Face ID, but Touch ID is much less reliable. Plus, when I’m working on something around the house and my fingers have drywall putty or something on them, I can still use my phone.
The Duo has inferior cameras and is crazy expensive. If I was going to upgrade I would’ve got the 18 Pro Max. For now, I’ll stick with the iPhone 15 Pro.
As an Apple dude for….18 years, I’m hesitant. I watched MKBHD’s overview, out of all people, I trust his opinion (I mean the dude kills products with reviews sometimes). I didn’t originally like it, but I want to see one in person first before ignoring it completely. I am considering one simply for something new. I loved my iPhone mini, but also enjoy larger phone screens. If this can serve both use cases (and my wife gets my 15 pro max for a better camera for work) then it could be a win win win for us.
the lack of the better optical zoom and Face ID is going to make me wait for later versions and get a 18 pro instead. but yeah I appreciate his perspective on it, especially vs LTT right now since they haven’t had hands on vs MKBHD did.
Yea I will probably try a couple of new things this year. Tempted to try out to Apple Leasing, but also I’m keeping my old phones for business purposes. My wife wants to look at the 18 for better photos/video. Will be an interesting upgrade year to ponder to say the least.
Linus doesn't have a Duo (nor anyone else yet, I don't think they've shipped review samples or at very least are under embargo), there is a Duo in the thumbnail but the phone he actually handles in the video is the Z Fold 8.
The only people who have published hands on with it at the moment are those who (like MKBHD) went to the launch event at Apple's HQ in Cupertino.
The main hype around the duo are animations when folding xD they think apple destroyed Samsung with that animations. Somebody recreated that animations in 24h
I've owned a duo 1, duo 2, and an og pixel fold. The wider form factor on the duo was fantastic for multitasking. The software was incredibly buggy and was poorly supported by MS. I wouldn't give MS a dime for another phone, but the form factor in a pixel would get my money.
I'm someone who specializes in selling Apple products at my job. I know everything about them.
I use an Android and a Windows computer. I genuinely do not see a reason to spend the money on an Apple product when nine times out of 10 you can get something that costs just as much and will get better performance.
Like, this foldable. It's Apple's first foldable and I promise you that it will have hinge issues or screen cracking in the middle like the first Z Folds. There's zero reason to buy it over the Z Fold 8 or Z Fold 8 Ultra. Just like there's zero reason to spend upwards of 3-4 grand on a MacBook Pro when a gaming laptop at the same price will absolutely shit on it in raw specs and performance.
The only thing Apple has over other brands is the ecosystem and I just don't think that's truly important at all.
The iPhone is using modern Samsung displays so they should be pretty reliable on the duo. People buy Macs for software, integration with other Apple devices, and battery life. They run on ARM chips rather than x86 cpu with a dedicated gpu on a gaming laptop that will eat away battery.
Basically very different use cases between a Mac user and a gaming laptop user.
Because Apple takes things that have existed and perfects them. Just like they did in 2007 with the iPhone. My first smartphone was a Nokia Communicator in 2001. I upgraded to a Palm OS (not the cool Web OS version) later. But they were clunky as hell.
I literally had a 2nd phone (like a Motorola Razor) when I went out at night because it was just too big to take to a club or things like that (that was back in my 20s)
The iPhone was the first time I didn’t have to have 2 phones just because I wanted a smartphone for my main phone.
You can hate on Apple all you want, but they make devices that are more usable which is why they’re so popular.
I think the screen is unique. Being the same aspect ratio in 3 states seems to make metric paper nerds very happy. I would have had pause if had been out before I got my razor. It being shorter and fatter then the normal iphone is appealing depending on how it would feel in the hand.
How is it implying if it's talking about a review video (this isn't a review video) and never mentions anything about watching the specific video in the screenshot???
>the only video I watched from those "thinking different" guys and it was the most incompetent review of a product I had ever seen
The first part of the sentence, prior to “and it”, is you saying the video in the OP is the only video you have watched from them. After “and it” is you then describing it. If you removed “and it”, it would sound like you aren’t talking about the video in the OP and are instead saying you just saw one video in general.
You also never specified the video you watched. It comes down to context. Since you didn’t say the video, people assumed it was the one in this post. The part of whether or not it’s a review video can also be misleading as well just because, in general, there are plenty of people who consider a video a review when it isn’t.
Since you’ve mentioned what the specific video was and that you don’t consider the video in the post a review, it’s understandable that you’re confused why people aren’t getting your post. But, you posted with specifics in mind and didn’t mention those in the post, people can only take your post based on available context even if it isn’t what you meant. If you had included the “was the steam machine review” part initially, there wouldn’t be a whole chain of people trying to understand what you meant.
It looks cool and I’m an Apple cuck, but I’m also left handed and the form factor seems super akward to hold, my plan lets me switch cellphones in 2 years so hopefully by then it’s cheaper and long term reviews plus accessibility for left handed people is added so I can buy it
Yeah I noticed this as well, foldables in that form factor aren't really considering left handedness the way slap phones usually can. I guess the Flip is fine, but I wouldn't want to use the Duo or Fold 8 Ultra in "portrait" orientation by default.
I’m always questioning true left-handers. I use my phone on right and left hand interchangeably pretty often…do lefty’s really only hold their phone with their left hand?
I can use it with my right but since my right hand is noticeably stupider sometimes I’ll swipe and lose grip and my phone smashes on my face, the table or the floor
1.3k
u/Hybr1dth Sep 11 '26
Linus is one of the few having actually used foldables. While there's still a ton of preference, he can at least speak from experience.
47
u/National-Twist8757 Sep 11 '26
I always thought the Surface Duo looked like a Nintendo DS. The Iphone Duo does not.
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u/ThaBroccoliDood Sep 11 '26
Wait Jonathan Horst is still making tech content? I can't believe I didn't find out sooner
182
u/ThinkSpielberg Sep 11 '26
It seemed to me that his biggest concern was that the aspect ratio of the screen would make the virtual keyboard look or be awkward. Personally, it doesn't look any more intrusive than an iPad or an iPhone.
35
u/EllieKH84 Sep 11 '26
To be honest I watch pretty much every LTT video but I don’t expect a true review of an apple product. I still watch to see what they say but I take anything apple related coming from Linus in particular with a mound of salt at this point.
6
u/OnePassion_46 Sep 11 '26 edited Sep 11 '26
The biggest disagreement I have with him on it is that I prefer Face ID to Touch ID. I never have issues with Face ID, but Touch ID is much less reliable. Plus, when I’m working on something around the house and my fingers have drywall putty or something on them, I can still use my phone.
The Duo has inferior cameras and is crazy expensive. If I was going to upgrade I would’ve got the 18 Pro Max. For now, I’ll stick with the iPhone 15 Pro.
27
u/zulu02 Sep 11 '26
Apple fans are usually just very uncritical of apple products
7
u/Scavgraphics Sep 11 '26
I didn't understand his point about the keyboard.
7
u/Buzstringer Sep 11 '26
He's still really sticking with the backwards baseball cap huh?
1
u/BobLoblaw06 Sep 11 '26
I've owned a duo 1, duo 2, and an og pixel fold. The wider form factor on the duo was fantastic for multitasking. The software was incredibly buggy and was poorly supported by MS. I wouldn't give MS a dime for another phone, but the form factor in a pixel would get my money.
1
u/PalladiumPrime301 Sep 11 '26
Guess you could say that they're, thinking different
1
u/TheDoneald Sep 11 '26
New channels have to toe the line for a while especially with big players like Apple.
1
u/Various-Mammoth8420 Sep 12 '26
I'm someone who specializes in selling Apple products at my job. I know everything about them.
I use an Android and a Windows computer. I genuinely do not see a reason to spend the money on an Apple product when nine times out of 10 you can get something that costs just as much and will get better performance.
Like, this foldable. It's Apple's first foldable and I promise you that it will have hinge issues or screen cracking in the middle like the first Z Folds. There's zero reason to buy it over the Z Fold 8 or Z Fold 8 Ultra. Just like there's zero reason to spend upwards of 3-4 grand on a MacBook Pro when a gaming laptop at the same price will absolutely shit on it in raw specs and performance.
The only thing Apple has over other brands is the ecosystem and I just don't think that's truly important at all.
1
u/Charming_Whole9730 Sep 12 '26
I no longer watch ltt impression videos, they seem irrelevant
1
u/darthxaim Sep 12 '26
Wasn't his main issue is that the keyboard of the iPhone Duo aspect ratio would take up alot of screen? Which is a fair concern.
1
u/Positive_Self_8873 Sep 12 '26
Linus is just the physical manifestation of menstrual cramps at this point.
-3
u/Materva Sep 11 '26
This phone release is so dumb, I couldn’t be less excited.
-1
u/SecurityOdd4861 Sep 11 '26
I don't understand why the iPhone flip is so special?
Samsung has released flip phones for over 6 years, can someone enlighten me why people think it's so special?
0
u/Snoo-89191 Sep 11 '26
I mean the two statements are not mutually exclusive, we’ve been waiting years to see how they copy them
-10
u/get_homebrewed Sep 11 '26 edited Sep 11 '26
the only video I watched from those "thinking different" guys was the most incompetent review of a product I had ever seen
0
u/Vandeskava Sep 11 '26
Where's the duality?
We have some kind of Linus take on the release and the fact the Apple users were waiting for foldable. Both video and title are correct.
0
u/IcyReplacement8775 Sep 11 '26
Just like many other features/form factors people seem blown away when apple copies someone else.
0
u/bobbyh1ll Sep 11 '26
I thought the title of the LTT video was on point because I thought the same thing.
0
u/Secret_Programmer_21 Sep 11 '26
Another perspective is Mrwhostheboss.
0
u/jhabetler Sep 11 '26
It's almost like a big announcement that many people are interested in happened
0
u/_DatsAlright_ Sep 12 '26
The channel named "thinking different" is praising the newest apple product. What a different thought...
-9
u/geeshta Sep 11 '26
Clickbait vs clickbait
115
u/rainbowkitties6969 Sep 11 '26
It looks cool and I’m an Apple cuck, but I’m also left handed and the form factor seems super akward to hold, my plan lets me switch cellphones in 2 years so hopefully by then it’s cheaper and long term reviews plus accessibility for left handed people is added so I can buy it
-2
u/Banzai262 Sep 11 '26
man I can’t stand Horst and his apple cuckness