Apple launches iPhone Duo, highlights 50+ optimized apps
Apple launched its foldable iPhone Duo on Friday, October 23, 2026, introducing a new App Store badge for optimized software. The device features an inner display 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple highlighted over 50 apps, including Netflix and Microsoft Office, that support the device's multiple poses. While early reviews noted initial app compatibility issues, Apple states developer support is rapidly expanding to enhance multitasking and media experiences.
Key points
- Apple, the technology company, released the iPhone Duo, a foldable smartphone, on Friday, October 23, 2026.
- The iPhone Duo features an inner display that is 50 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, enabling new multitasking and media viewing capabilities.
- Apple introduced a 'Made for iPhone Duo' badge in the App Store to identify applications optimized for the device's larger screen and various physical poses.
- More than 50 third-party apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Microsoft Word, are updated to fully utilize the inner display and support features like split-screen viewing.
- Apple retail staff advised customers that walk-in stock for the iPhone Duo may be limited on launch day, prompting many buyers to rely on pre-orders.
- Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, described the developer community's response as 'incredible,' noting rapid adoption of the new hardware's flexibility.
Apple has officially launched the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, on Friday, October 23, 2026. The device features an inner display that is 50 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, designed to accommodate a variety of physical poses, including partially folded, seated, and standing configurations. To address early concerns regarding third-party app compatibility, Apple has introduced a new 'Made for iPhone Duo' badge in the App Store. This label identifies applications built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later, which are optimized to fill the entire inner display and utilize the device's expanded screen real estate.
Apple highlighted more than 50 apps that are either currently optimized or will soon be updated for the iPhone Duo. Notable examples include Netflix, which allows users to browse short-form clips on the outer display while watching full-length content on the inner screen, and Amazon Prime Video, which supports partially folded viewing. Microsoft Word and Outlook are set to provide a 'desktop-class' experience, displaying formatting tools and inboxes alongside documents and messages. Other optimized applications include Zoom, Slack, Lyft, and the official MLB app, which utilizes the full width of the inner display for live game statistics.
Despite the launch, some retail staff reported that walk-in customers might face limited stock on launch day, encouraging pre-orders. Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, stated that the developer community's response has been 'incredible.' She noted that developers are rapidly reimagining their applications to take advantage of the device's flexibility, with many more app experiences expected to roll out in the coming weeks.
Sources
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