Apple criticized Android foldables but faces similar display issues

During the presentation of the demiPhone Duo, Apple CEO John Ternus criticized existing foldable smartphones, describing them as feeling like ‘two strangely glued-together phones.’ Ternus specifically targeted the square aspect ratios of competitor devices, arguing they are poorly suited for watching films or scrolling through vertical content due to intrusive black bars.

However, developer documentation reveals that Apple’s own device will face similar issues. According to reports, the iPhone Duo will utilize ‘letterboxing’ to display applications not yet optimized for iOS 27.1, resulting in the same black bars on the sides of the screen that Ternus criticized in Android devices. While this has been a common challenge for the foldable market, Google has previously worked to mitigate this through software adjustments and developer engagement.