GoKawiilCompanies often focus on features like thinness and screen size when launching foldable phones. But for many people, one of the biggest concerns is durability. If you’re spending around $2,000 on a phone, you want to know it can withstand whatever life throws at it.
Apple’s iPhone Duo and Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold stand out in the increasingly competitive foldable phone market for one notable reason: They both have IP68 ratings. That means they’re expected to withstand being submerged in water (up to 6 meters for the Duo and 1.5 meters for the Pixel) for up to 30 minutes, and are dust resistant — a rarity in the world of foldables. So in theory, you can take your pricey handset to the beach without worrying about sand getting in and ruining your device.
The two phones also have high price tags. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB, while the Pixel 11 Pro Fold starts at $1,899 for the same storage level. Preorders for the iPhone Duo kick off Oct. 16, for an Oct. 23 release. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is available now.
I’ve had the opportunity to use both phones, and the key difference lies in how each is designed. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold takes on a more traditional book-style design, with a cover screen resembling the measurements of a standard slab phone. Inside, the expansive screen is ideal for watching movies or multitasking.
On the other hand, the Duo’s passport-size design makes for a squatter, more compact cover screen and a short, wide inner display that’s ideal for watching videos in landscape and is well-suited to vertical content in portrait. Like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, it’s designed to adapt more naturally to a wider range of content formats.
Here’s how else the iPhone Duo and Pixel 11 Pro Fold compare.
iPhone Duo vs. Pixel 11 Pro Fold design and displays
The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch cover display. Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
The iPhone Duo has a squat, 5.4-inch cover display and a wide, 7.6-inch inside display. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has a taller 6.5-inch cover display and a larger 8-inch main display.
The Duo can be a good fit if you want something compact that essentially expands into an iPad Mini. The Pixel Fold feels very much like a non-folding phone when closed, and opens up to a more expansive, tablet-like display.
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