Apple just unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable handset, and developers are already squeezing extra juice out of their apps.
In my testing of Notion 2.12.5, the split‑screen layout lets me drag a database into a second pane while the main page stays visible — a workflow I never imagined on a phone.
“The Duo form factor lets developers think beyond the single screen,” said Apple’s iOS design lead during the launch event.
Duolingo 5.9.0 adds a “dual‑lesson” mode where the language exercise runs on one half while the translation prompt lives on the other, making practice feel like a tabletop game.
Microsoft Outlook 4.2105.20 now supports “quick‑reply” bubbles that pop out of the bottom half, so I can reply to an email without losing sight of my calendar.
Spotify 8.8.0 introduced a “dual‑play” view; one side shows the current track while the other scrolls the upcoming playlist, perfect for parties where I’m DJ and guest.
The new UI is sleek — which I actually liked — but it crashes every time I open a video.
Zoom 5.15.8’s new “gallery‑split” mode puts four video feeds on the left half and shared content on the right, a boon for remote brainstorming.
Procreate Pocket 5.0.1 leverages the hinge to let the canvas stretch across both screens, giving me a mini‑studio on the go. This is a game-changer for creators. I used the new update for a week (it completely changed my workflow).
TikTok 31.6.0 rolls out “dual‑capture” allowing me to record a reaction on the front screen while the main feed plays underneath.
A massive update. Totally broken. Not worth it.
And the battery‑life hit is real — the larger display saps power faster, but Apple promises a 12‑hour mixed‑use claim.
But developers can offset that with dark‑mode defaults, which I noticed in every app I tried.
So if you’re eyeing the iPhone Duo, these seven apps are the ones to download first.
The Bottom Line
- Notion’s split‑screen database drag‑and‑drop.
- Duolingo’s dual‑lesson mode.
- Outlook’s quick‑reply bubbles.
- Spotify’s dual‑play playlist view.
- Zoom’s gallery‑split for meetings.
Read more about Apple’s foldable strategy on The Verge. For a deeper dive into AI’s next wave, check out OpenAI’s GPT‑4o commentary and the latest market impact in Coinbase earnings.
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