Apple’s First Foldable Gets Roasted Online Over Name: “IYKYK”

Apple's reported launch of its long-rumoured foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has triggered an unexpected wave of online reactions over its name rather than its hardware. Technology enthusiasts were quick to point out that Microsoft used the same "Duo" branding for its Surface Duo dual-screen smartphone in 2020. The connection has sparked amusement among Microsoft fans, with "IYKYK" — short for "if you know, you know" — becoming a recurring reference in online discussions.

The Surface Duo featured two displays connected by a hinge and was positioned as Microsoft's entry into a new category of mobile devices. Windows Central senior editor Zac Bowden, a known Surface Duo supporter, criticised Apple's choice of the name while recalling Microsoft's decision to discontinue the device after its second generation. He also linked Apple's use of "Duo" to the company's earlier adoption of the Surface-related "Neo" name for another product, arguing that the choices could further overshadow Microsoft's abandoned hardware efforts.

Other technology outlets also joined the discussion, with Droid Life pointing to the Surface Duo as the obvious reference behind the online jokes. On social media and technology forums, users questioned whether Apple could have been unaware of Microsoft's earlier use of the name. Some suggested that Apple should have chosen a more straightforward name such as "Fold", while others joked about the commercial history of the Surface Duo and Apple's premium pricing.

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The comparisons have extended beyond Microsoft, with some users noting that "Duo" has appeared in other technology products over the years. One discussion referenced Intel's older Core Duo branding, while others pointed out that Apple itself previously used the Duo name for its PowerBook Duo laptops in the 1990s. Apple has also used "Duo" in more recent branding, including for its MagSafe Duo charger, giving the company its own history with the term.

Not everyone views the comparison as a simple case of Apple copying Microsoft. Windows Latest offered a more sympathetic assessment of the Surface Duo, arguing that the device's shortcomings were linked partly to Microsoft's software support rather than its hardware. The publication highlighted features such as its slim design and 360-degree hinge, suggesting that the Surface Duo represented an idea that could have developed further if Microsoft had continued investing in the product.

Apple has not publicly addressed the discussion surrounding the name, leaving online users to debate whether the similarity is meaningful or simply a coincidence. For former Surface Duo fans, however, the appearance of "Duo" on Apple's foldable has revived memories of Microsoft's short-lived experiment in the foldable smartphone market. The result has been a mix of nostalgia, humour and scepticism surrounding a product name that already carries a history in the technology world.

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