Two of the iPhone Duo’s most debated omissions may take several generations to solve. In a post on X, Mark Gurman (@markgurman) said he expects Apple to make Face ID and a telephoto camera top priorities for future models, with both features potentially arriving by the third generation.
The first Duo uses Touch ID in its side button and carries 48-megapixel Main and Ultra Wide cameras. Apple describes a 2x Telephoto option, but it comes from a crop of the Main sensor rather than a separate long-range lens. Buyers moving from a Pro iPhone therefore lose the dedicated telephoto hardware and Face ID system.
Thin hardware creates a depth problem
Gurman calls the challenge “fundamentally a physics problem.” A folded phone must divide its internal space between two thin halves, while Face ID’s depth sensors and a folded telephoto lens both need physical depth. The open Duo measures only 5.2mm, according to Apple’s technical specifications.
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His expected solution combines smaller components with better computational processing. Less sophisticated sensors could capture reduced optical data while improved AI recovers some of the accuracy or image quality in software. Gurman believes Apple’s coming smart-home hub may offer an early look at that approach to facial recognition.
Apple has not confirmed a second or third-generation Duo, and it has not promised either feature. Our iPhone Duo FAQ explains what the first model includes, while the Duo and iPhone 17 comparison helps show which trade-offs matter today.
The first model still offers several camera features built around folding, including rear-camera selfies with an outer-screen preview, Duo Preview for subjects and a propped-up shooting position. Those additions may matter more to some buyers than optical zoom, but they do not replace the security convenience of Face ID.
That trade-off may remain decisive for professional iPhone buyers.
A third-generation target would also give Apple time to refine the hinge, battery layout and thermal system before adding more hardware. Until then, shoppers must choose between the foldable screen and the biometric and camera package available on Pro models. Are Face ID and a dedicated telephoto lens essential for you, or is the larger folding display worth the compromise? Share your answer below.
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