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September 18, 2026

The MacRumors Show: Is the iPhone Duo Actually Worth It? Hartley Charlton | usagoldmines.com

On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we revisit the iPhone Duo debate, early impressions of the AirPods 5, and the merits of Apple’s latest iPhone and Apple Watch upgrades.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone continues to divide opinion, with much of the discussion centering on whether its larger inner display justifies the compromises elsewhere. Combining an iPhone and an iPad-like device has obvious appeal, but its value depends on how often that extra screen space would actually be used.

Watching videos, reading, referencing documents, and working across multiple apps could all make the foldable display worthwhile, particularly when traveling. For users who primarily take photos, send messages, and browse social media, the benefits may be harder to justify against the device’s price, weight, thickness, and camera trade-offs. The excitement surrounding a new form factor also raises the question of whether buyers will embrace it for the long term or return to a conventional iPhone.

Our discussion also addresses criticism of the ‌iPhone Duo‌’s inner display, including concerns about sharpness, color saturation, and crease visibility. Its nano-texture finish introduces a balance between reducing glare and retaining the appearance of a glossy screen, with hands-on impressions offering a different perspective from photos and videos online. Other considerations include using the wider form factor one-handed, switching from Face ID to Touch ID, and potentially replacing an iPad on some trips.

‌AirPods 5‌ emerge as a potential standout following a week of use, including on a flight. Their fit and improved active noise cancellation could make them particularly appealing to users who struggle with AirPods Pro’s silicone tips. We also consider the value of the higher-end model and how iOS 27‘s equalizer can help adjust a sound profile that may initially seem too bass-heavy.

The Apple Watch Series 12 and redesigned Health app receive a closer look, with this year’s health features forming a more substantial upgrade after several relatively modest generations. Clearer presentation of health data and new longevity information promise to make collected metrics more useful. Whether those additions justify replacing an older watch remains a separate question for owners whose basic fitness and sleep-tracking needs are already met.

Finally, we return to the iPhone 18 Pro‘s variable-aperture camera, smaller Dynamic Island, and new Photographic Styles. The discussion weighs how noticeable these changes will be in everyday use, with the new film-inspired styles potentially offering as much appeal as the camera hardware improvements. We also look at whether owners of recent Pro models have sufficient reason to switch, and when a discounted iPhone 17 Pro could offer better value.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you’re subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.

If you haven’t already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our initial discussion about the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, ‌iPhone Duo‌, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and ‌AirPods 5‌.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Michael Fisher, Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at podcast@macrumors.com or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Related Roundup: iPhone Duo
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon)
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, “The MacRumors Show: Is the iPhone Duo Actually Worth It?” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak

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