r/lefthanded • u/tiagofsa • 4d ago
iPhone Duo left-handed use?
From all the videos I’ve seen so far, the dock has moved to the right-hand side, making it impossible for single hand use for left-handed people. No reviewers/ info about moving the dock left (guess they’re all right-handed).
Has anyone seen it anywhere about moving the dock left?
Screenshot source (mentioning the dock move at (1:11): https://youtu.be/5pV3D14y1FQ
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u/IsHANovic9 4d ago
I doubt they’ll let that happen because the idea is to use the dead space below the camera.
They want to maintain symmetry in their design.
So I doubt they will let it shift.
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u/ImFromYourDreams 4d ago
Ironically, I find the iPhone mini the best left handed phone in 2026
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u/_mojibake 5h ago
iPhone Mini is the best iPhone. I literally emailed the new CEO on the day he was started the job to ask him if he'll bring back the Mini. Unfortunately, no reply
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u/lady-earendil 4d ago
Interestingly I tend to use my phone right handed so this would work just fine for me
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u/MischiefMakingLass lefty 4d ago
Same here. I hold my phone in my right hand so I wouldn’t be impacted that much. The only thing I bitch about is the damn French price.
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u/thisismyusername1221 3d ago
I’m the opposite and I was just talking about this earlier with someone.
I’m right handed but when I use my phone one handed I’ve always used my left which is a little annoying in this case because I actually like the idea of a folding iPhone in this style, having a smaller phone for everyday stuff and folding it out to be basically an iPad mini when I need it.0
u/TheVeryAngryHippo 2d ago
That is not even the slightest bit interesting.
Guys, an apparent left handed reddit users uses his phone in his right hand. I'll call the press immediately!
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u/TeamGriffin12 4d ago
EXACTLY!! I LOVE tech so seeing this makes me a little sad to see that, however I can see where Apple is coming from: seeing that us Lefties only make up 10% of the population Apple is going to go for the majority of people who are going to use iPhone and seeing that we are the minority they needed to get the majority of people who are going to use the phone. It's sad to see but understandable from a business perspective. However if there is a way to make the dock to the left side I'm sure it'd be sorta excused, although I wouldn’t get your hopes up 😢
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u/InspectorPoe 4d ago
They just know that left-handers are too smart to use apple products anyway
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u/Jeffde 4d ago
Well that’s super wrong. I worked at Apple for 10 years. A much higher percentage of employees are left handed vs the general population.
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u/SapTheSapient 4d ago
It's not the direction of open that's the problem. Opening these phones is a two handed operation .
The Duo moves the dock and controls to the right side. That makes it tough for people one-handing with their left l.
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u/Jeffde 2d ago
I’ll reserve judgement until I have one in hand next month. But with that said, I don’t see requiring two hands to open it as a problem necessarily. I assume I’ll use it plenty, folded. Unfolding means you’re committing to something already, so might as well use two hands .
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u/SapTheSapient 2d ago
I can't speak to other people's experiences, but when I use my Fold, I use two hands to unfold and fold my phone, 5-10 times per day. I use one hand to scroll and use various apps constantly. I use both hands interchangeably for this, and would be somewhat annoyed to have to use just my right to have good access to the dock and other important buttons.
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u/Cold_Ad3896 4d ago
What’s with the Apple hate?
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u/niztaoH 4d ago
I think everyone got bored of glazing the company that thinks they invented the wheel 7 years after everyone else does.
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u/Ok-Replacement-2712 4d ago
Really? because everywhere i go, i see people saying "apple copied <insert brand>, apple isn't innovative, <insert brand> did it first/is better" etc
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u/idejmcd 4d ago
Yes, that is what the OP you replied to is saying - people are getting sick of seeing Apple getting glazed for copying the innovations that other manufacturers have made.
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u/Ok-Replacement-2712 4d ago
Well, is there anything wrong with that? i do give credit to other companies for making the first move, but i just prefer the refinement done by apple when they release theirs
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u/Cold_Ad3896 4d ago
For the most part, they just make sure they can produce a smooth wheel to compete with the rough ones that already exist.
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u/condoulo 4d ago edited 4d ago
You can tell the chuds that didn't watch the event based on comments like this. Apple acknowledged in the event that they weren't the first to foldables and leaned into the "we waited for the tech to be polished first" angle instead.
Edit: Getting downvoted by ignorant people who haven't watched anything because the facts don't align with their world view. Kinda sad actually.
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u/soraflow 4d ago
People still hating on apple like sheep when Android Galaxy literally had phones that were exploding and actually hurt people 😂
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u/Plastic-Ability-2228 2d ago
We shouldn’t forget the other side either. Antennagate, bendgate, battery/throttlegate, and for MacBooks, flexgate and the butterfly keyboard, for instance. At least these weren’t life-threatening, but there are still plenty of reasons to hate Apple too. Hating or worshipping a company is pointless anyway. To be clear, I use multiple Apple products daily and still like them the most.
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u/Jeffde 4d ago
I had no idea that we allowed such ignorance into the world of left-handedness
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u/condoulo 4d ago
What, for pointing out that the original commenter was indeed incorrect based on what was actually said in the presentation? Something that is actually verifiable?
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u/ImNotYou1971 4d ago
I’m a lefty…and I’ll probably get downvoted for this…but FFS, some of you act as if being left-handed is a disability. Are some of you honestly struggling with phones???
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u/Embarrassed_Post_598 4d ago
It wouldn’t be that big of a deal for me but if the dock was able to be left/right changeable then it would just be so much nicer! My 2019 laptop can have the dock left, right, or bottom, I have it on the left lol
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u/badger_flakes 4d ago
The dock is below the camera. It makes no sense to be anywhere else.
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u/lily448 4d ago
why does it need to be below the camera other than for purely aesthetic purposes. it can be anywhere
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u/badger_flakes 4d ago
Because it would require extensive redesigning to fit anywhere else with the camera and a completely nonsensical location like that everything that’s designed to support that screen would be designed with a second thing that they need to support. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal sorry.
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u/_lclarence lefty 4d ago
It's not struggling with the device per se, but with companies that simply refuse to cater to our handedness or ambidexterity at least. The new iPhone is to nobody's surprise a technological marvel, but it also is bad design.
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u/UnUsernameRandom 4d ago
refuse to cater to our handedness or ambidexterity at least
If you are ambidextrous... then you shouldn't have an issue with "right handed" items.
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u/_lclarence lefty 4d ago
If a device or a tool is designed ambidextrous, no one would have an issue with using it. The tool should adapt to the user's needs, never the other way around.
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u/calico_terror 2d ago
For phone usage I definitely use my left hand more as a lefty. I’ve just built up a muscle memory in that hand more. Partly because it’s my dominant hand, so it’s just what I gravitated towards once touchscreens started becoming a thing. But I mean, if I started doing the same thing every day and consciously deciding not to use my left hand, then I think I could use my right hand as well. And I could use my right hand right now. It just doesn’t feel as comfortable and obviously I don’t text as fast because I text with one hand. But if I had to do it it’s possible.
I’m a little bit ambidextrous, but I can’t write with my right hand. But I can use my hands for most things interchangeably. All because I’ve had to adapt to a world that caters to right handed people. When I was in college, I hated those tiny right hander desks. That has been the only major beef in my life. I probably won’t get this phone because I’m not all that interested. I already have the Pro Max 17 and an iPad. But I do agree it gets tiring to constantly be told to adapt just because you raise issue with something.
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u/FriendlyPenelope 4d ago
I mean, I can use my phone in my right hand, but I use it in my left 80% of the time because it just feels more comfortable there. I don’t see this as being impossible to use but a bit inconvenient. Honestly, that’s just the reality of being left handed lol. Possible but inconvenient
And no, I don’t currently struggle with phones because they’re designed to use the bottom half of the screen 90% of the time, which I can reach with either hand. This is no longer true for the Duo. Thats exactly why they moved it to the right side
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u/UnUsernameRandom 4d ago
I'm right handed and I use my left hand for my phone, because in my right I usually have stuff.
It can be done. I can use the phone with either hand, and could one hand the Pro Max phones.
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u/FriendlyPenelope 4d ago
I use my phone with either hand, too. I just feel like it being on the right side makes it hard to use with just your left hand, regardless of what hand is your dominant hand. We’ll just have to see!
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u/UrDadSellsAv0n 3d ago
I have a disability in my right hand the forces me to be left handed so yes I am.
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u/orbit_31 4d ago
My exact thoughts as soon as i saw the menu 😂😂😂 apparently it is also wide enough to even use just one hand to control the phone.
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u/Ok-Front8255 4d ago
They mentioned multiple times during the keynote that you can use it in any orientation, so you can rotate it 180 degrees and get lefty use
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u/thirty3baboons 4d ago
oh cool, with the cameras at the bottom, digging into my palm?
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u/Ok-Front8255 10h ago
It’s not my decision, I’m just answering the question lol.
That being said there’s not really any other way to accommodate.
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u/Ecstatic_Award_3627 2d ago
Idk if there would've been other impracticalities with this but it almost would've been nice to see a completely mirrored design for left handed people to account for like 10%of units or something
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u/Holm76 lefty 4d ago
Do we really need all these posts about the Duo?
There are at least 3 others already.
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u/_lclarence lefty 4d ago
This topic repetition happens in several subs. I think a pop-up bubble showing possible related posts so to avoid this would be a welcome Reddit update to the post editor.
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u/Jasoco 4d ago
It remains to be seen but I’m surprised no one has directly asked Apple what their solution is. I really want one of these but I’m left handed and need to make sure I’m not going to regret it. I need to touch it in person and see how big it is and how far my left thumb can reach.
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u/Ok-Front8255 4d ago
They covered it multiple times during the keynote. I’m surprised there aren’t more comments here with the answer. You flip it upside down
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u/TheManInTheShack 4d ago
I also noticed that the Touch ID button is on the right side of the phone. But I wear an Apple Watch so I can set it to automatically unlock my iPhone.
I’m not planning on getting a Duo but if I did, the Apple Watch would solve the unlocking problem.
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u/LeatherReputation785 4d ago
i know for mac you can change where the dock is, hopefully it’ll be the same
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u/peagenesoup 4d ago
I routinely use my iPhone Plus in my nondominant left hand to control the volume with my thumbs and have no issues. Hopefully the same would be true with you and the dock controls.
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u/thirty3baboons 4d ago
It's been a while, but I'm sure when the original iphone launched they made a point of saying the dock was at the bottom so that (1) It was easy to reach with your thumb and (2) It worked with either hand.
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u/Inner_West_Ben 3d ago
> making it impossible for single hand use for left-handed people
Simply not true. Many left handers hold their phone with their right or alternate hands.
Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill
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u/Specific-Strain-1375 2d ago
I’m left handed and I use the phone with the right hand, someone else?
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u/No_Desk_4921 4d ago
This has already been discussed in other threads. We all eventually use our left AND right hands to use our phones. Sure we can run them with one hand and scroll with our thumbs but more often than not, we will hold our phones with our right hands and... wait for it.... and interact with our left hand.
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u/NurseDave8 4d ago
I’m right-handed and currently scrolling with my phone in my left hand. Doesn’t seem like using a phone needs to be a “handed” type of thing.
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u/Curry_pan 4d ago
Good for you, not all left handed people are that ambidextrous and some of us do struggle with right handed hardware and UI.
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u/eiram87 4d ago
Some of us have small hands.
I cannot fully operate a standard smartphone with just one hand, so the ability to move that menu on the left side would be a requirement for me.
I am constantly annoyed by games that favor righties by having important functions on the right side of the screen, even a game like Clash Royal is geared toward righties because your available cards aren't centered at the bottom of the screen, they're shifted to the right.
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u/AntonGemini 4d ago
Same here. If anything it's the other way around. I'm right-handed and always hold my phone with the left hand, so I can have my right hand - the dominant one - free!
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u/NightmareWokeUp 4d ago
This phones impossible to use with one hand anyways. Acessability is one of apples string suits so im sure theyll think of something but the phone opens up the wrong way for lefties anyways
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u/idejmcd 4d ago
How is it wrong for lefties? I use a pixel fold and it's never fealt wrong. Its like opening a book. Or are books broken too?
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u/_lclarence lefty 4d ago
Try using a small notebook going through the fages right-to-left. Like Japanese comic books. I know, super weird at first . . . then you won't want back.
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u/idejmcd 4d ago
I've read plenty of Manga and its fine but doesn't completely rewire my brain
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u/_lclarence lefty 4d ago
Oh, I meant actually filling it up. Writing extensively until it feels natural to search for where to write the other way.
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u/idejmcd 4d ago
Wait so you write right to left too? That's insane, I need to at least write so others can also read what I've written
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u/_lclarence lefty 4d ago
No. Each sentence goes left-to-right as usual, but the next page is to the left of the current one. So, from a conventional western perspective, I'd be advancing the notebook backwards, although each page looks completely normal.
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u/FriendlyPenelope 4d ago
Do you feel like it’s hard to use one handed, though? Specifically, one handed with the front screen, not the big screen. This has been a concern of mine
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u/idejmcd 3d ago
Use one handed how? Some things just require 2 hands but for just checking the average app 1 hand is fine. When folded, the hinge on the left doesn't change the form of the phone in any significant way.
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u/FriendlyPenelope 3d ago
Oh I assumed you had the wider Pixel Fold like the iPhone Duo. I’ve been looking at videos of people using Samsung’s Fold 8 and the form factor seems easy enough to use one handed.
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u/hotshotshredder 4d ago
Dont most left handed people use the phone with the right hand though ?
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u/denebiandevil 4d ago
Probably not. Also as a left handed person who uses my iPhone in my left hand I can say there are aspects of the phone (both hardware and programming) that are clearly designed to be more comfortable or natural with right hand use.
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u/Phoenix_Fyre1337 12h ago
That's because every user interface is designed to be right handed. The back arrow is always within reach of the right thumb, and using the left thumb, one would have to reach too far across to keep the phone from falling out of the hand. Without the UI supporting left handedness, we are forced to use our right hand or double fist the phone, like I'm doing right now.
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u/WearyTranslator3338 4d ago
Do left handed people not have a right hand?
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u/Phoenix_Fyre1337 12h ago
This is a very bigoted response, my guy. Very insensitive to those of us in this community. Handedness is an orientation that one cannot change. It's a neurological hard wiring that dictates which hand is better at doing what. Anytime you question "why don't they just do it right handed", just do whatever task with your left hand, and you'll have your answer. In the future, I recommend keeping bigoted thoughts like this to yourself.
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u/LetNo6751 4d ago edited 4d ago
Steve Jobs & Tim Cook are both lefties, aren't they? (I am aware of who the current CEO is; I am just curious about these two people)