Previewing the iPhone Duo Using an iPad mini

The 9to5Mac column published in October 2026 describes a personal experiment in which the author used an iPad mini as a stand-in for the forthcoming iPhone Duo. Because the iPad mini’s 8.3-inch display is close in size and shape to the Duo’s 7.6-inch screen, the author installed the same apps and layout on the tablet to approximate the phone’s experience while awaiting the Duo’s launch.

9to5Mac

Both devices feature minimal bezels, but the Duo’s interior display is slightly smaller (7.6 inches) than the iPad mini’s (8.3 inches). The author notes that the reduced bezel on the Duo narrows the perceived size gap. Running iPadOS rather than iOS, the iPad mini offers more flexible multitasking, yet the author limited usage to full-screen or split-screen modes to mirror the Duo’s intended interface.

9to5Mac

Using the iPhone’s Wi-Fi hotspot for connectivity, the author could employ the iPad mini in situations that would normally require the iPhone. The tablet delivered a “better experience” in terms of multitasking flexibility, but the author found windowing on the small screen cumbersome. Portability was mitigated by carrying the iPad mini only when a backpack was available, roughly half the time the author was out and about. Switching back to the iPhone 18 Pro made the phone’s screen feel “extremely small,” reinforcing the author’s anticipation for the larger Duo display.

9to5Mac

The experiment provided a rough approximation of using a large-screen phone, confirming that a 7.6-inch display will feel substantially larger than current flagship phones. However, the iPad mini does not support all Duo-specific features, so the preview remains limited. The author concludes that the trial has heightened, rather than diminished, enthusiasm for the upcoming iPhone Duo.

9to5Mac