iPhone Duo Arrives With Uneven App Support on Day One
Some iPhone Duo buyers are unboxing the foldable today, while others wait until January, and several apps show unused space on its displays.
Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, reached some buyers on October 25, and early owners are reporting that a number of their apps are not yet tuned to its foldable screen ratios, according to CNET. Some apps show unused space after users transfer their software to the device.
The Duo pairs a squat, wide front screen with a 4:3 inner display, and Apple designed the outer screen to match the inner display's aspect ratio — a point the company highlighted during its September 9 presentation launching the phone. Some apps are already tailored to those dimensions, but not all.
Supply is uneven as well: while some customers are unboxing the device now, others will have to wait until January for delivery.
Comparisons with rival foldables are already circulating. The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra both carry 6.5-inch outer screens and 8-inch inner screens, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra uses a 21:9 cover screen and a 10:9 inner screen.
Familiar growing pains
The first Samsung Galaxy Fold, released in early 2019, drew criticism for apps rendering badly on its inner display. Apple's own iPhone X in 2017 initially left black bars above and below some unoptimized apps. Over roughly a decade, Android foldables from Samsung and Google have received software improvements for foldable formats.
Quick answers
When does the iPhone Duo ship?
Some buyers are receiving the device on October 25, 2026, while others will have to wait until January.
Why do some apps look bad on the iPhone Duo?
Some apps are not yet optimized for the phone's foldable screen ratios and show unused space after being transferred.
What screen sizes does the iPhone Duo have?
It has a squat, wide front screen and a 4:3 inner display, with the outer screen matching the inner display's aspect ratio.