[Pipper99]

These devices have now long been pocket computers that take pictures and make phone calls: although we all make a lot of calls, the phone functionality seems basic and to be of lesser importance to most people than the other features. Maybe “phone” should be de-emphasized in the naming.

 

[kerosene]

Or is it because they would rather demonstrate FaceTime, their calling service?
I also have to ask, because I haven’t bothered to look, does Apple show any of their other phones up to someone’s face? In 2026? Is that like, a marketing photo for the 18 Pro? Someone taking an old-fashioned hold it up to your ear phone call?

Dunno, maybe making phone calls this way isn‘t a thing any longer?

 

[TroyBoy30]

It should be easy for you to provide a promotional image from Apple showing any of the other iPhones Apple is currently selling held up to somone's ear then right?

weird right? i wonder why they hide that! #s

 

[tomtad]

they have these things called ear buds or heaven forbid speaker phone

If you can't hold it up to your ear than it's DOA.

Fortunately I believe you can

 

[Gsxr750]

The point is how they‘re not even showing this use case at all (phone to ear). I find that remarkable for a device that is called iPhone. Don‘t know if you could call this wrong, but apparently avoiding showing this device will now cover one side of your face.

Why spend time on a feature that’s been around for over 20 years?

 

[Macalway]

It's not too large. There are plenty of this size.

 

[GMShadow]

what's wrong with that? don't you remember old pre-iPhone phones that tried to be smaller and smaller? I had a Nokia that was so tiny the microphone only reached to the end of my sides

It's fun to remember that the original iPhone was actually seen as large - so much so that Apple sought out models with larger hands for the commercials to make the phone seem smaller than it was. In a world where the Motorola RAZR was a few years old, the iPhone was giant.

 

[NotApplicable]

It's fun to remember that the original iPhone was actually seen as large - so much so that Apple sought out models with larger hands for the commercials to make the phone seem smaller than it was. In a world where the Motorola RAZR was a few years old, the iPhone was giant.

It wasn’t particularly gigantic compared to its more direct competition, the blackberry

 

[MarkX]

View attachment 2661603Prove me wrong, but I‘ve noticed that Apple hasn‘t mentioned AT ALL in their presentations or shown in ANY of their marketing materials the basic functionality of the iPhone Duo as an ordinary phone…

For sure, not a coincidence?

Perhaps, to avoid undesirable impressions such as this? (for clarity, the image is AI generated, can‘t assert this is showing the proportions with fidelity)

What's so undesirable about the image? It's only 6mm wider than the Pro Max.

 

[slippery-pete]

Never gets old

Yeah, it kind of does.

 

[Yr Blues]

What's a phone?

 

[eyoungren]

What's a phone?

It is something that as my Gen-Z children are discovering, must be used if you wish to converse with medical providers and their billing departments, government services and employment.

Many, many things are online or function as an app. But not everything has fully caught up so that no one has to use a phone for calls anymore.

The back office billing department for my son's doctor for example, does not have a direct website or app where you can dispute the bill or ask questions, nor an email address or texting capability to do the same. You have to actually call them if you have questions.

But, if your life is so arranged that everything you ever deal with can be handled with a device and not a phone call, then I am happy for you.

 

[Clix Pix]

they have these things called ear buds or heaven forbid speaker phone

Some people cannot or won't use ear buds or Air buds, and using speaker phone out in public is not exactly a polite or optimum solution.

 

[HouseLannister]

Prove me wrong, but I‘ve noticed that Apple hasn‘t mentioned AT ALL in their presentations or shown in ANY of their marketing materials the basic functionality of the iPhone Duo as an ordinary phone…

They actually haven’t been able to make phone calls for three years. It just took you this long to notice.

 

[TroyBoy30]

Some people cannot or won't use ear buds or Air buds, and using speaker phone out in public is not exactly a polite or optimum solution.

agreed, just pointing out there are options if you feel silly using it as a phone. personally, i don't waste time caring about what other people think

 

[azhava]

Some people cannot or won't use ear buds or Air buds, and using speaker phone out in public is not exactly a polite or optimum solution.

Good thing the Duo can be used as a conventional mobile phone in a conventional manner.

I don't like the design of the Duo and won't be buying one, but I fail to see this "issue" as a problem. You can hold the Duo up to your ear and use it just like any other mobile phone. The form factor is a bit awkward IMO, but if that's an issue for somebody there's always the option to not buy it.

 

[Clix Pix]

Good thing the Duo can be used as a conventional mobile phone in a conventional manner.

I don't like the design of the Duo and won't be buying one, but I fail to see this "issue" as a problem. You can hold the Duo up to your ear and use it just like any other mobile phone. The form factor is a bit awkward IMO, but if that's an issue for somebody there's always the option to not buy it.

I agree, although it looks a bit awkward and probably heavier than a typical smartphone and/or iPhone, it still is designed to also be used in the customary way. People indeed do have the choice to either buy it or reject it for various reasons which may be important to them.

In my earlier post I was simply pointing out that what may be options for some customers may not be for others in response to the all-too-quick, common and reflexive response of "oh, well, if someone can't or doesn't want to use the Duo at their ear they can just use earbuds or speaker phone."

Not in the market here for the Duo, but I'm curious about it and looking forward to seeing and handling one the next time I am at the Apple Store. It's a cute and intriguing new device from Apple!

 

[ResolutionNZ]

View attachment 2661603Prove me wrong, but I‘ve noticed that Apple hasn‘t mentioned AT ALL in their presentations or shown in ANY of their marketing materials the basic functionality of the iPhone Duo as an ordinary phone…

For sure, not a coincidence?

Perhaps, to avoid undesirable impressions such as this? (for clarity, the image is AI generated, can‘t assert this is showing the proportions with fidelity)

I still haven't seen any images of the on screen keyboard on the front display. This is a more noticeable omission.

 

[NotApplicable]

I still haven't seen any images of the on screen keyboard on the front display. This is a more noticeable omission.

 

[AppleWes]

Prove me wrong, but I‘ve noticed that Apple hasn‘t mentioned AT ALL in their presentations or shown in ANY of their marketing materials the basic functionality of the iPhone Duo as an ordinary phone…

I don't understand the "prove me wrong" point. Does it matter?

They still sell 18 Pro if you prefer a 'longer' normal style iPhone or can hold up to ear with Duo closed.

 

[jinnyman]

at least for me, a cellphone is not being used as pre-dominantly voice call device. I contact more often in text, hence my tendency to go bigger.

 

[kerosene]

weird right? i wonder why they hide that! #s

Congrats, you’ve won the internet today!

 

[Petey07]

This kinda reminds me of the Blackberry series, weird shape but it was comfortable to type with two fingers (not one tho lol).

 

[kerosene]

Good thing the Duo can be used as a conventional mobile phone in a conventional manner.

I don't like the design of the Duo and won't be buying one, but I fail to see this "issue" as a problem. You can hold the Duo up to your ear and use it just like any other mobile phone. The form factor is a bit awkward IMO, but if that's an issue for somebody there's always the option to not buy it.

You‘re right. Seems my thread has caused some upheaval. ChatGPT now tells me that Apple stopped featuring imagery of their phones being used as such (held to the ear) from about the arrival of the iPhone 6, and are instead highlighting all other uses.

 

[NotApplicable]

You‘re right. Seems my thread has caused some upheaval. ChatGPT now tells me that Apple stopped featuring imagery of their phones being used as such (held to the ear) from about the arrival of the iPhone 6, and are instead highlighting all other uses.

Apple is not alone there