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Apple announced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable device, but this isn’t the first time Apple has used the name 'Duo' for a product. The PowerBook Duo, introduced in 1992, was an ultraportable laptop that predates the iPhone Duo by decades. It was the smallest and lightest PowerBook available but still weighed over 4 pounds, requiring optional docks for peripherals. Apple later introduced the MagSafe Duo charger in 2023, which wirelessly charged an iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously, though it was discontinued shortly after.
Beyond Apple, other notable 'Duo' products include NEC’s TurboDuo, a console merging TurboGrafx-16 and TurboGrafx-CD functionality, launched in 1993. Google Duo, a VoIP service launched in 2016, was later merged into Google Meet in 2022. Microsoft’s Surface Duo, released in 2020, was a folding smartphone with visible hinges but faced software issues and poor reception. Asus introduced the ROG Zephyrus Duo and ZenBook Pro Duo, dual-screen gaming and productivity laptops, while Asus ZenBook Pro Duo predates the ROG Zephyrus Duo. The Pebble 2 Duo, a smartwatch from Core Devices, offers simplicity and affordability. iRobot’s Roomba Duo prototype combines cleaning and docking capabilities. Retroid’s Pocket Duo is a modernized handheld with dual screens, debuting in 2026. Each of these devices shares the name 'Duo,' reflecting Apple’s recent rebranding of its foldable iPhone.
Source: The Verge
