The iPhone Duo has a FaceTime camera beneath its inner display, allowing video calls when the foldable phone is fully open or propped up on a surface. Apple says the under-display camera keeps the large inner screen uninterrupted when it is not in use. MacRumors reports that the device also adds Duo FaceTime, which lets another person join a call through the outer display.
The inner camera is one of the parts made possible by the Duo’s two-screen design. A user can open the phone and make a call without holding it in front of a separate camera. Apple says the camera works whether the Duo is open or placed in a hands-free position.
The outer display has a separate 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera. Apple describes Center Stage as a way for people to preview a selfie or video framing on the outside of the phone. That gives the user a camera that remains available when the phone is closed.
MacRumors says the Duo can use both displays and cameras for Dual Capture in FaceTime. Duo FaceTime allows someone nearby to join a conversation using the outer display and camera, so people in the room do not all need to crowd around one screen.
The company also links the camera arrangement to group photos. A user can preview a rear-camera shot on the outer display, and Smart Take can wait for a group to pose. Kid Cue can show Peanuts animations to draw a child’s attention. These are separate functions, but they all rely on having a screen on the outside of a folding phone.
Apple has not said that the hidden camera will match the image quality of the rear cameras. The verified point is its position and intended use. Video quality, low-light performance and the way the camera handles the screen area will require testing after launch.
Apple says iPhone Duo preorders begin October 16 and availability starts October 23. The foldable begins at $1,999. The camera system gives the Duo a hands-free calling option without adding a visible punch-hole to the inner display, while the outer camera keeps the closed phone useful for selfies and group calls.
