Apple's highly anticipated iPhone Duo, a new foldable smartphone, has launched with a substantial price tag exceeding Rs 3 lakh. However, early reports indicate that despite its premium cost and innovative form factor, the device's main camera specifications are surprisingly not on par with Apple's traditional Pro-level iPhone models.
Camera Specifications: Duo vs. iPhone 17e
The iPhone Duo's main camera features a 26mm lens with an f/1.6 aperture and utilizes Hybrid Focus Pixels. These core specifications are remarkably similar to those found in the iPhone 17e, Apple's more budget-friendly iPhone offering. This direct comparison has raised eyebrows among tech consumers, who expect cutting-edge camera technology in a device priced so steeply.
While many specifications align, one key difference lies in the optical image stabilization (OIS). The iPhone Duo incorporates "sensor-shift" OIS, a more advanced technology where the camera sensor itself moves to compensate for hand jitters. In contrast, the iPhone 17e is noted to have standard OIS, which typically relies on lens movement for stabilization. Sensor-shift OIS generally provides superior stability for both photos and videos, resulting in sharper images and smoother footage.
Duo's Camera: A Middle Ground?
Further comparisons reveal that while the iPhone 17 also features sensor-shift OIS, it employs Apple's "100% Focus Pixels" for autofocus. The top-tier iPhone 18 Pro also uses this "100% Focus Pixels" terminology. Given these distinctions, the iPhone Duo's main camera appears to occupy a middle ground, combining the sensor-shift stabilization found in the iPhone 17 with the Hybrid Focus Pixels utilized by the iPhone 17e.
"Buyers will be paying a hefty amount for a foldable phone that does not feature the company’s latest Pro-level camera technology."
It's important to note that Apple has not yet disclosed critical details such as the sensor size or pixel size for the iPhone Duo's main camera. Without this information, a definitive conclusion about whether the Duo and 17e share the exact same physical camera sensor remains elusive. The official similarity Apple has highlighted so far is the shared "Hybrid Focus Pixels" terminology for both cameras.