Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is emerging as a target for returns among some buyers less than two weeks after its launch.

On Nov. 11, IT outlet The Verge reported that complaints were spreading among early buyers about its weight, durability, outer screen size and how it is used.

The iPhone Duo is seen as a product for early adopters because it costs $2,000, with a retail price of 3.29 million won in South Korea. It is also being assessed as showing the limitations of a first-generation product in hinge quality. Sales continue, and Apple’s online store is showing a delivery estimate of January 2027 for orders.

Reasons for returns include both expected complaints and unexpected reactions. A small outer screen and camera performance that falls short of expectations are issues often pointed out in existing foldable devices. Some users also said Duo’s core concept of combining an iPhone and an iPad instead made it inconvenient to use.

Content creator and photographer Ben Selligson (벤 셀리그슨) said he used the iPhone Duo but returned to a standard iPhone. He said he thought it would be good to have an iPad that fits in a pocket, but in reality one device performing two roles caused inconvenience.

Durability and portability issues also influenced decisions to return the device. Art director Faye Yes Bongsuban (페이예스 봉수반) said she planned to use the Duo for photo editing and wedding preparations, but the screen cracked within two days of purchase. She said she was recovering at home after hand surgery at the time, so it was not a situation where she would handle the iPhone roughly.

Bongsuban said she received a replacement device quickly but eventually returned that as well. The biggest reason was weight. She said the iPhone Duo was too heavy and bulky for everyday use.

Even after the returns, the Duo left a clear impression. Selligson said, "There is something special about the iPhone Duo," adding, "It did not feel like a phone everyone has used over the past 10 years." Bongsuban said the experience of writing and drawing on the Duo’s inner screen with an Apple Pencil would lead her to use her existing iPad Pro more often. Hayes said he chose the standard Pro instead of the Pro Max after using the Duo.

Apple’s extended return deadline is also a factor. With the policy applying from Nov. 6, buyers receiving new devices can get a full refund until Jan. 8, 2027. With more reviews and return cases likely to accumulate, it remains to be seen whether the Duo can attract a broad base of iPhone users.