Apple is promoting a growing collection of apps built for the iPhone Duo’s larger inner screen, with Netflix, Microsoft, Zoom and major games among the early adopters.
Apple has begun surfacing a wider set of applications and games built for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable handset, as developers move to take advantage of the larger inner screen and its seamless shift from the cover display. According to Apple’s newsroom announcement, the optimised apps became easier to discover from 23 October, with the App Store highlighting them under a “Made for iPhone Duo” label. The company says the device’s inner display is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, giving users more room for media, multitasking and content creation.
The foldable design is central to Apple’s pitch. The company says the outer and inner displays share the same aspect ratio, which lets apps expand and contract without awkward jumps, so users can continue what they were doing after opening the device. Apple has also tied the new experience to Split View, which allows two apps to run side by side, along with new APIs in the latest SDKs that let developers tailor layouts for folded, unfolded and propped-up use.
Entertainment apps are among the clearest examples. Apple highlighted Netflix, Prime Video and Paramount+ as adapting their interfaces to the foldable format, while MacRumors reported that Netflix lets users browse short clips on the outer screen and then resume playback on the larger inner panel. Apple said Prime Video can place playback on the top half when the phone is folded, while showing X-Ray details below, and Paramount+ has been arranged so that it can be used hands-free when the phone is open and standing.
Sports and productivity apps are also being redesigned around the extra screen space. Apple said MLB and PGA Tour apps can place live scores, statistics and standings alongside video, while Microsoft Word, Outlook, Zoom, Slack and Salesforce are being updated to make the most of the larger canvas. Reuters-style material in Apple’s announcement describes Zoom as using the inner display for a meeting layout that shows shared content and participants at the same time, while Outlook can place an inbox beside the full text of messages.
Creative tools are moving in the same direction. Apple said Detail uses on-device artificial intelligence through a new Core AI framework, allowing video work to happen locally on the handset, while Instagram’s Edits app is arranged to show its timeline, tools and media together. The company also pointed to use cases such as captioning, trimming filler words and audio correction performed on the device, which Apple says helps preserve privacy by avoiding unnecessary cloud processing.
Gaming is another focus, with Apple saying the iPhone Duo’s A20 Pro chip and vapour chamber are intended to sustain performance during longer sessions. The company highlighted titles including Asphalt: Legends, Zenless Zone Zero and UnGodly, as well as Apple Arcade games such as Sneaky Sasquatch and Retrocade. Apple said some games alter controls depending on how the handset is held, while others use the wider layout for more detailed maps, inventories or split-screen action.
Apple also widened the picture beyond the headline names, noting that more than 50 third-party apps are being adapted for the device. MacObserver and Gadgets 360 reported similar numbers, with examples ranging from Lyft and OpenTable to NYT Cooking, Flighty, Craft, Weibo and regional apps in China, Korea, Europe and Latin America. Apple said it has held hands-on workshops in 19 cities for more than 2,000 developers, while also providing new tools in Xcode 27.1 so software teams can simulate folding, rotation and hinge behaviour before release.
The push comes as the iPhone Duo reaches the market in multiple storage tiers, with Apple listing 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions. Apple said Japanese pricing starts at ¥364,800, with sales beginning on 23 October in more than 70 countries and regions and on 30 October in another 28. The company is also using the launch to promote Apple One trial offers on eligible new devices, while AppleCare+ and AppleCare One remain part of the after-sales package where available.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
