We gave the iPhone Duo a 7 /10. But that wasn’t always the score we planned, and it might not be the right score forever. Such are the challenges of reviewing — and assessing — a big, new idea about the most popular smartphone in history.
On this episode of The Vergecast, David and Nilay debate whether the Duo deserved the score it got, and try to work through how this device might change over time.
After that, the hosts talk about the huge PHP cybersecurity flaw that rocked the web this week, the ongoing increase in AI shopping, an impending reboot inside of Netflix, and some very confusing Gemini news. Also, Brendan Carr is a Dummy.

Further reading:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1015028/iphone-duo-review">The iPhone Duo is a messy, expensive, good time</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1010131/apple-iphone-duo-news-announcements">All the news about the iPhone Duo</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>Daring Fireball: <a href="https://daringfireball.net/2026/10/the_iphone_duo">The iPhone Duo</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1016574/php2shell-security-vulnerability-websites-down">PHP: The three little letters wreaking havoc across the web</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/report/1015811/ai-shopping-agents-blocked-amazon-the-realreal-target-meta-muse">AI agents are ready to shop. Some retailers are wary</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1015715/walmart-ai-shopping-agents">Walmart is inviting AI agents to shop for you</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1016029/10-million-people-have-already-set-up-muse-agents">10 million people have already set up Muse agents.</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/1014826/netflix-earnings-q3-2026-viewing-time">Netflix is telling investors not to worry, even though you’re watching less and less</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1014999/google-gemini-ai-cars-android-auto">Google’s more personalized Gemini AI is heading to your car</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/subscribe">Subscribe to The Verge</a> for unlimited access to <a href="http://theverge.com/">theverge.com</a>, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge-podcast-ad-free-set-up-how-to">ad-free podcast feed</a>.
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0:00&nbsp;No Sevens Pact
01:03&nbsp;Show Agenda Setup
01:46&nbsp;Duo Score Debate
03:08&nbsp;App Optimization Phases
07:47&nbsp;Two Thousand Dollar Problem
10:44&nbsp;iPad Not iPhone
14:41&nbsp;Outer Screen Compromises
18:04&nbsp;Developer Badges Future
20:34&nbsp;Early Adopter Reality
30:19&nbsp;Handoff eSIM Limitations
34:49&nbsp;PHP Shell Chaos
36:17&nbsp;PHP Under the Hood
37:46&nbsp;AI Finds the Exploit
40:46&nbsp;Disclosure Panic Fallout
42:44&nbsp;Patch Now or Go Dark
45:58&nbsp;Autonomous Defense Arms Race
48:42&nbsp;Agents Break the Web
53:04&nbsp;Muse Adoption Shopping Stats
54:11&nbsp;Bots Buying Movie Tickets
01:01:05&nbsp;Instagram Deepfake Crisis
01:07:30&nbsp;Brendan Carr is a Dummy
01:10:06&nbsp;FCC Threatens Poll Coverage
01:17:44&nbsp;FCC Free Speech Alarm
01:20:20&nbsp;The Lightning Round
01:20:49&nbsp;Arc Browser Shutdown
01:23:12&nbsp;AI Browsers Future
01:27:14&nbsp;Meta Terms Backlash
01:34:04&nbsp;Netflix Identity Crisis
01:43:16&nbsp;Gemini Confusion Car
01:49:12&nbsp;Wrap Up And Awards
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