Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone in a big redesign of its smartphone with a widely expected announcement on Wednesday. It puts the tech giant in competition with companies such as Samsung, Honor and Google, who all offer folding phones and have been refining the devices for a few years. The iPhone Duo won’t hit the Irish market until October 23rd, but attendees at the Apple launch got a brief hands-on guide to the device. So what are the early thoughts?The goodThe iPhone Duo’s main selling point is its versatility, with the device going from compact phone to almost mini-tablet size. The iPhone Duo adopts a similar style to the passport-sized Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and comes with a 5.4 inch cover display that opens out into a 7.6 inch inner screen. That big inner screen gives you more space for multitasking, watching videos or scrolling social media, and the quality seems to have got the thumbs up. One big plus point in Apple’s favour was the lack of a crease on the inner display, something that has plagued other manufacturers in the foldable market. Add in the animations and transitions as the phone is folded and opened up, and the whole experience seems to be polished and perfected. [ John Ternus faces bulging in-tray as he takes over AppleOpens in new window ]The inner camera is hidden under the display and only activates when needed. The lack of a dynamic island – the interactive cut-out at the top of the iPhone screen – doesn’t seem to be a negative for most people who have been hands-on with the phone. The Duo will also support the Apple Pencil stylus later this year, giving rise to concerns that this could mean the end of the iPad Mini.The badThe iPhone Duo comes with a hefty price tag, starting at €2,369 for the 256GB version and topping out at a whopping €3,869 for the 2TB model. That might see the device remain a niche product for now. Apple's foldable phone. Photograph: Jason Henry/The New York Times