Did Apple copy the "Duo" name from Microsoft? History tells a different story
Since Apple unveiled its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, in early September, online chatter has focused on its resemblance to Microsoft's Surface Duo name. But both companies have a longer, separate history with the word "Duo".
Apple's early-September announcement of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, sparked plenty of online discussion — not so much about the device's features, which aren't groundbreaking given Android foldables have existed for years, but about its name. Many pointed out the similarity to Microsoft's Surface Duo line, prompting mockery online. Other "Duo"-branded products were also mentioned in passing, including the language app Duolingo and the now-defunct Google Duo VoIP service, which was eventually folded into Google Meet.
Apple used "Duo" back in 1992
Apple's use of the name isn't new. Back in 1992, the company released the Apple PowerBook Duo, a compact laptop produced through 1997 that could connect to an accessory called the Duo Dock to function as a full desktop setup. It wasn't a huge hit, but it shows Apple used the Duo name long before Microsoft did. Apple's trademark list also includes the MagSafe Duo Charger, introduced in 2020, a wireless charger capable of powering two devices at once, such as an iPhone alongside an Apple Watch or AirPods.
Microsoft's rockier Duo history
Microsoft's Surface Duo launched in 2020, the same year as Apple's MagSafe Duo Charger. The dual-screen, hinge-connected Android device offered 360-degree rotation but was described by reviewers as merely adequate as a phone and "pretty bad" as a tablet. Its successor, Surface Duo 2, released a year later, fared no better — reviewers called it a "letdown" due to unreliable software, no outer screen, and a weak camera, despite an improved hinge. It lagged behind rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, though some reviewers praised its split-screen multitasking, a strength also noted in early iPhone Duo hands-on impressions. Microsoft ultimately scrapped Surface Duo 3 in 2023, and other planned foldables never materialized. Given that Microsoft's Duo line was discontinued and poorly received, and that Apple had already used the name before Microsoft, accusations that Apple copied the name appear largely unfounded. The iPhone Duo, unlike its Microsoft namesake, is expected to land with a much warmer reception.
