iPhone Duo Returns: Nearly a Third of Poll Voters Sent It Back

iPhone Duo returns may be close to 30 percent among a self-selected group of 9to5Mac readers, according to Ben Lovejoy's Nov. 12, 2026 update at 4:45 a.m. PT. Lovejoy said the poll had close to 6,000 total votes and about a third of respondents said they returned the Duo for a refund. This is an unscientific reader poll, not Apple sales data or a verified marketwide return rate.

The poll matters because Apple positioned the iPhone Duo as a major new category. Apple called the iPhone Duo "the most transformational change to iPhone since the original" when it announced the foldable iPhone in September. As ShiftDelete.Net previously reported based on Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the US and launched October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions.

What do the iPhone Duo returns really tell us?

9to5Mac's Nov. 11 poll by Ben Lovejoy asked readers who received an iPhone Duo early enough to reach the end of Apple's 14-day return window whether they kept it or returned it. Lovejoy wrote that this would be a "disastrous return rate" for almost any other device, but said it was not "terribly surprising" for the Duo and that he does not think Apple should worry. The caveat is important: 9to5Mac readers are self-selected enthusiasts, many likely to pre-order, and the poll did not show results without voting. One commenter said they voted "returned" only to see results without owning one.

Why did some buyers return the iPhone Duo?

The Verge's Alison Johnson reported on buyers who returned the iPhone Duo within Apple's 14-day "no questions asked" window. Reported complaints included the iPhone Duo being too heavy and bulky, the outer screen feeling too small, cameras not matching the iPhone 18 Pro, and the device not living up to the idea of an "iPad in my pocket." For camera context, see our earlier iPhone 18 Pro coverage.

9to5Mac comments cited similar reasons. Readers mentioned not wanting to go back from Face ID to Touch ID, cameras being key, an awkward feel, an outer screen described as way too small, not wanting to open the phone every time for a larger display, the outer display's "silly permanent dock," and left-handed use. One reader said sand entered the hinge during a night camping in the Sahara in Morocco, after which the inner display still worked but the phone no longer opened all the way and had to be forced shut.

Should Apple be worried about the poll?

Analysis: The poll does not prove that iPhone Duo is failing, and it does not tell us Apple's actual return rate. It does suggest that the first foldable iPhone asks buyers to accept new tradeoffs in weight, front screen aspect ratio, cameras, price, and daily habits. Lovejoy said he cannot make it his only phone because cameras are his priority, though he still wants one, and 9to5Mac's Ryan Christoffel concluded after a week that the Duo was probably not for him. That is a usability signal, not a sales verdict.

There are also signs of demand. 9to5Mac said delivery estimates keep slipping and random checks show shipping dates in late January. ShiftDelete.Net also reported that iPhone Duo replacement units ran short as screen cracks piled up, based on Bloomberg Power On, while Apple said iPhone Duo-optimized apps passed 100,000. Those points do not cancel out return concerns, but they show the picture is more mixed than one poll suggests.

What should you check before you buy?

• Decide whether iPhone Duo will be your only phone or a trial device.
• Check whether camera quality matters more to you than foldable screen space.
• Test the outer display workflow if you dislike opening a phone for quick tasks.
• Consider pocket weight, hinge exposure, and left-handed use before committing.
• Remember that 9to5Mac said Apple's extended holiday return window lets purchases made now be returned through January 8.