Man buys a $32 'iPhone Duo' and it goes about as well as you'd expect
Published on Sep 18, 2026 at 11:01 AM (UTC-4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 02, 2026 at 5:20 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Mason Jones

Apple works hard, but people who create dupes of Apple products work harder and this man who bought a $32 ‘iPhone Duo’ discovered that fact in the best way possible.
There has been no shortage of rumors about Apple’s first foldable iPhone, but one man decided he wasn’t willing to wait for the real thing.
Instead, he bought a $32 ‘iPhone Duo’ to see just how close a bargain-bin clone could get to Apple’s rumored foldable.
The result was less futuristic smartphone and more 2G phone wearing an iPhone costume.
The $32 foldable looked like an ‘iPhone Duo’ – sort of
The first gadget Smokin’ Silicon tested was the Servo X9 Pro, which was comical, it looked like an old-school flip phone with an iPhone 17 Pro-inspired camera bump.
Opening it up revealed a folding design, complete with a nostalgic flip phone experience, it needed buttons to work it.

But any remaining illusion that it was anything like an actual iPhone Duo quickly disappeared once he started exploring the phone.
For starters, it had three SIM card slots, a feature that isn’t exactly common on modern smartphones, and then he opened the camera.

“I’ve said this a lot recently, but this truly could be the worst camera I’ve ever seen,” he joked.
The resulting photos were incredibly blurry, while the phone’s flashlight was so weak that it barely illuminated his hand from a few inches away, it also ran on 2G, had a micro-USB port, and couldn’t properly access the internet.

Things didn’t get much better
The second phone was designed to resemble the iPhone Air, complete with a bright orange finish and a folding design.
There was just one problem: its internal display was absolutely tiny.

After grabbing a tape measure, the YouTuber, Smokin’ Silicon discovered it was only around 1.5 inches wide.
The phone did at least have some familiar features, including Facebook, Google and Opera Mini, but there was little point in having them because the device only supported 2G networks.

The camera was also predictably awful, with the YouTuber struggling to photograph a nearby sticky note clearly enough to read it.
It did have Snake, though, so at least there was something to do while waiting for the world’s slowest smartphone.


The third device looked considerably more convincing, with a larger folding screen, physical controls and even three flashlight LEDs.
It also had games, Bluetooth, FM radio and a camera.

Unfortunately, it was still another 2G phone.
The creator checked its storage and found perhaps the most impressive part of the entire experiment.
The phone had just 144KB of free space.


“I mean that is just insane for 2026,” he said.
And that pretty much sums up these bizarre iPhone clones.
They might borrow Apple’s design language and give you the appearance of owning a futuristic folding iPhone, but underneath the shiny exterior, they’re incredibly basic flip phones wearing Apple costumes.
For $32, though, you could probably do a lot worse – although you might struggle to find somewhere that still supports 2G.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.


