The newly announced foldable phone from Apple has generated plenty of early excitement, but not everyone in the tech industry is impressed. Nothing CEO Carl Pei recently shared his honest thoughts on the highly anticipated iPhone Duo, and he did not hold back his criticism. According to Pei, the $1,999 foldable device is a waste of money due to some major missing features and hardware compromises that buyers should expect at that price.
The lack of facial recognition is a major letdown
Pei points out that the device is missing Face ID, a staple security feature since the iPhone X. He believes any phone costing $1,999 needs to include this technology. There are a few likely reasons for this omission. The foldable measures just 5.2 millimeters thick when opened, which leaves very little room for the required TrueDepth camera system.
Also, placing sensors on both the inner and outer screens would require two separate Face ID setups, adding unwanted thickness to the design. To fix this, some fans suggest putting Touch ID on the outside screen and saving Face ID for the inner display.
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Camera downgrades make the high price hard to justify
The camera system is another big reason Pei feels the phone falls short. The front features a standard 12-megapixel shooter, which is a noticeable step down from the 18-megapixel selfie camera found in the iPhone 18 Pro.
The foldable also drops the LiDAR scanner, a tool that greatly improves photography in dark environments. The biggest hardware loss is the complete absence of a dedicated telephoto lens. Software features took a hit too, as the device lacks the manual Pro controls for adjusting shutter speed and aperture.
Future models might fix these missing hardware features
The company is reportedly aware that fans will miss the telephoto lens and Face ID. According to industry insider Mark Gurman, adding these features is a top priority for future versions. However, buyers might have to wait until the third generation, as these upgrades seem unlikely for the second model.
Despite the criticism, the first foldable still brings some impressive features. It offers top tier build quality, an almost invisible screen crease, a 120Hz ProMotion display, the powerful A20 Pro chip, and support for the USB-C pencil.
While Carl Pei makes some valid points about the missing hardware, early adopters will have to decide if the new shape is worth the trade-offs. The first foldable sets a solid foundation, but waiting for a future model might be the smarter choice for power users.
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