Yesterday I watched Apple’s presentation of the new iPhone Duo and as soon as I saw the foldable design I started wondering what it could mean for digital artists. If you draw digitally you probably know the problem: an iPad is an amazing drawing tool but it’s not necessarily something you carry with you everywhere. Your phone on the other hand is.
That’s exactly why the iPhone Duo caught my attention as an illustrator. The idea of having a device that can unfold into a larger screen while still being small enough to carry with you everywhere sounds incredibly interesting as a digital sketchbook.
Apple has introduced its first foldable iPhone with a 5.4 inch outer display and a much larger 7.6 inch OLED display when unfolded. The inner display has a resolution of 1878 × 2670 pixels and features a nano texture finish as well as ProMotion with refresh rates of up to 120Hz.
But there is one feature that makes the iPhone Duo particularly interesting for artists: it supports the Apple Pencil USB C.
Could this finally turn the iPhone into a proper digital sketchbook?
A Sketchbook You Actually Have With You
For me this is easily the most exciting part of the idea.
I normally draw on my iPad Pro and I love working with it. But I still have to make the conscious decision to take it with me. My iPhone is different. I really do have it with me almost all the time.
An idea while sitting on a train? A quick sketch in a café? An interesting person, building or situation that I want to capture?
You could simply unfold the phone, grab the Pencil and start drawing.
For quick ideas I think this could be incredibly useful. A 7.6 inch display is obviously much smaller than an iPad but for sketches, thumbnails and rough ideas I do not necessarily need a huge canvas.
This is also where I think a foldable phone could make a lot of sense for artists. It would not necessarily be about replacing your main drawing setup. Instead it could become a digital sketchbook that is always in your pocket and ready whenever an idea comes up.
But There Is One Big Problem
There is one thing that would make me hesitate: pressure sensitivity.
The iPhone Duo supports the Apple Pencil USB C but for me pressure sensitivity is one of the most important features when drawing digitally.
The pressure I apply affects my lines and is simply a fundamental part of the way I draw. It is something I have become so used to that drawing without it would immediately feel different.
If drawing on the iPhone Duo really means giving up pressure sensitivity then that would personally be a reason for me not to buy it.
For the Duo to become a serious drawing device for me I would want the same essential drawing features that I am used to from my iPad and Apple Pencil setup. The size of the screen would be something I could live with. Losing important aspects of the drawing experience would be much harder to accept.
Would I Buy the iPhone Duo for Drawing?
The concept itself is fantastic.
Having a relatively large digital sketchbook that folds down and fits into your pocket sounds incredibly useful. Especially for artists who like to capture ideas wherever they are.
I do not think it would replace my iPad for finished illustrations. The iPad still offers a much better workspace for more complex drawings and longer sessions. But for quick sketches, compositions and spontaneous ideas I can absolutely see the appeal.
Then there is the price.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the US, £1,999 in the UK and €2,299 in Germany.
That is a lot of money if drawing is one of the main reasons you are interested in it. For that price I would personally expect the drawing experience to come much closer to what I already have with my iPad and Apple Pencil setup.
Still I think the idea of a foldable iPhone as a digital sketchbook is really exciting. It could be particularly interesting for artists who enjoy drawing while travelling, commuting or simply capturing everyday moments without carrying an additional device.
For me the biggest advantage would not necessarily be the larger screen or the foldable design.
It would be something much simpler:
I would actually have it with me all the time.
Curious about the tools and ideas that have shaped the way I work digitally? I wrote about them in Things That Shaped My Workflow as a Digital Artist.
Looking for tools to support your creative journey? Check out my Tools & Resources page for the equipment and materials I use and recommend.