The iPhone Duo has no Face ID, so every unlock goes through the Touch ID sensor built into its side button. According to a MacRumors how-to guide, there is a way to skip that step: the phone can let a nearby Apple Watch vouch for you instead.
Which watches work
MacRumors says the feature requires an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, or an Apple Watch SE 3. The watch has to be worn and unlocked, and it needs to be close to the phone.
How to switch it on
The guide lays out a short setup. On the iPhone Duo, open Settings and choose Touch ID & Passcode, then enter your passcode. Scroll down to the "Unlock with Nearby Devices" section and turn on the switch next to your watch. Anyone with more than one paired watch needs to enable each of them separately.
How it works day to day
After setup, you wake the phone by lifting it or tapping the screen. If the Duo is folded shut, opening it also wakes the display. With the watch on your wrist and unlocked, the phone recognizes it and you then swipe up from the bottom edge to dismiss the Lock Screen, rather than pressing a finger to the sensor.
That swipe is still required. MacRumors notes that it can be turned off in Settings and points to a separate guide on how to do that. The outlet describes the Apple Watch method as the closest thing to Face ID available on the iPhone Duo, "at least for now."
Limits readers have flagged
The article's reader comments, which MacRumors did not verify, suggest the shortcut covers unlocking the device only. Actions such as entering passwords, authorizing Apple Pay, or opening secure apps reportedly still ask for Touch ID. One reader also said unlocking the outer screen was unreliable when using Apple's folio case after opening the flap, while the inner display unlocked consistently. These are individual user reports, not confirmed behavior.
Why it matters
Reviewers of the iPhone Duo have noted that Touch ID unlocks can feel slow compared with Face ID, a complaint we covered earlier this week. For people who already wear a compatible Apple Watch, the nearby-device option offers a practical workaround that removes the fingerprint step from most routine unlocks. Apple has not said whether Face ID will come to the iPhone Duo, and this guide does not address that question.
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