The first iPhone Duo hands-on reports describe a foldable phone that feels sturdy, adapts its interface to several positions and still shows a crease under some lighting. MacRumors tested the device after Apple’s launch event and described the fold as less distracting rather than completely absent.

The phone starts at $1,999. It has a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display. Apple uses a nano-textured polymer on the inside, which reduces glare and gives the panel a matte surface.

MacRumors found that the crease can still be seen in certain lighting. The report also notes that folds can become more visible over time, so the first hands-on view cannot answer long-term durability questions.

The software is built around the changing shape of the phone. Apps can run side by side, and two instances of an app can be placed together. The two halves cannot be resized independently, with each app taking one side of the display.

Apple also moves controls depending on whether the device is open, closed or partly folded. A vertical dock replaces the usual arrangement, while the system moves content away from the crease to make tapping easier.

The phone can stand in a tent position without charging. StandBy can then show widgets, music, calendar and weather information. Apple also says audio adjusts automatically as the device changes position.

Photography is built around a 48-megapixel main camera and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera. There is no telephoto camera. The phone uses a cropped view from the main sensor for its 2x option, and the outer camera is 12 megapixels.

Apple will open iPhone Duo preorders on October 16 and release the device on October 23. The hands-on report makes the trade-off clear: buyers receive a large, flexible work surface, but they also pay a premium and must accept the limits of a first-generation foldable.