Apple has announced that more than 100,000 applications designed specifically for its first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, are currently available on the App Store. The milestone comes as developers continue to adapt their software for the device’s main 4:3 inner display, addressing early reports of unoptimized apps displaying with black side bars.
Accelerating Developer Adoption
In a review by CNET, senior reporter Abrar Al-Heeti highlighted the device’s dual-display integration powered by iOS 27 and noted hardware durability that surpassed 300,000 folds during testing. Despite the build quality, early users observed that several popular applications, such as Discord, did not immediately expand to fill the inner display completely. Such delays in software adaptation are common following the release of new foldable hardware form factors.
Apple confirmed that software optimization for the new layout is proceeding rapidly. “Today, there are well over 100,000 apps built for iPhone Duo already live on the App Store, and thousands of optimized apps are being added to the store each day,” Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said in a comment sent to CNET.
Prescott emphasized the ongoing global developer outreach to support the device format. “In the last month alone, thousands of developers have joined us for workshops in 19 cities around the world to experience iPhone Duo firsthand and bring updated apps to their users,” Prescott said. “The enthusiasm has been incredible, and we’re excited to see the pace of updates continue to accelerate as more and more apps optimize for iPhone Duo.”
App Features and Platform Updates
Numerous optimized applications have adjusted their user interfaces to utilize the additional screen space. Productivity programs including Microsoft Word and Outlook now feature layouts similar to their desktop counterparts, while Zoom expands its interface to offer a larger video conferencing view. Sports applications such as the NBA and NHL apps allow users to view live games and highlights on the expanded display.
Shopping and utility platforms have also adapted to the format. Etsy and LTK Creator present broader feeds to show more items, while note-taking applications like Goodnotes and Extra provide expanded canvases. Additionally, the camera app Halide Mark III adapts to different device positions, operating as a cover screen viewfinder when closed or shifting to a waist-level viewfinder when opened halfway.
Apple also announced that an upcoming iOS 27.2 update will introduce support for the Apple Pencil (USB-C), enabling users to mark up documents directly within compatible applications like Apple Notes.
A wide variety of titles across categories—including Spotify, ChatGPT, Facebook Messenger, Canva, Substack, and Strava—have already received updates tailored to the foldable screen. CNET previously verified several other compatible apps, including Netflix, NYT Cooking, Fantastical, TikTok, and Instagram. To help users identify compatible software, Apple is adding a “Made for iPhone Duo” badge on App Store product pages alongside curated app showcase sections.
