Apple’s first foldable iPhone goes on sale on October 23, but not every developer has had enough time to optimise their apps for its two displays. While Netflix and several productivity tools are ready, Microsoft Word and Outlook are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Apple’s iPhone Duo is now available to buyers, but the software experience may not be as polished as the hardware on day one. Several developers have updated their apps to work with the foldable phone’s two displays, while others need more time to adjust their interfaces to its unusual proportions and multitasking features.
Announced on September 9, the iPhone Duo reaches the market on October 23, giving developers a limited window to prepare their software. Apple has highlighted a growing list of compatible apps, including Netflix, Bear, Things and Notewise. However, Microsoft Word and Outlook are among the applications that will arrive later, with updates expected in the coming weeks.
While the iPhone Duo offers a larger internal display when unfolded and a more compact screen when closed, applications designed primarily for conventional smartphones may not make effective use of either.
Netflix and productivity apps are ready for the foldable iPhone
Apple has named several third-party developers that have adapted their applications for the iPhone Duo, with streaming services and productivity tools among the early arrivals.
Netflix is preparing an interface that adjusts to the phone’s changing form. Users can browse Clips on the outer display and switch to the larger internal screen to watch their favourite shows. The layout is designed to respond as the device opens, closes or rotates, rather than treating both displays as interchangeable versions of a standard phone screen.
More from TechTom Richards, Netflix’s senior director of Engineering, said the company wanted the viewing experience to accommodate different situations, from discovering new content on the smaller display to watching programmes on the larger one.
Other entertainment services are also expected to support the device. Apple has identified Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, MLB and PGA Tour among the services coming to Apple TV, although their availability should not be confused with every service having a fully optimised iPhone Duo app at launch.
Several productivity applications have also been updated. Bear, Things and Notewise are among the apps prepared for the new form factor, while the Omni Group has adapted OmniFocus and OmniOutliner for both the outer display and the wider internal screen.
Flexibits, the developer behind Fantastical and Cardhop, is making use of the additional screen space as well. Its calendar app can display calendars, tasks and menus together on the unfolded screen, bringing more of the desktop-style experience to a device users can carry in their pocket.
Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said developers were exploring ways to use the larger display for activities such as multitasking, gaming and watching video.
Why some apps will take weeks to catch up
The uneven availability of optimised apps reflects the tight development schedule surrounding the iPhone Duo. Apple’s decision to keep the device secret until September 9 meant most developers had little opportunity to prepare their applications before the announcement.
The software tools needed to build for the new device also arrived after the unveiling. Xcode was updated to support iPhone Duo development about a week later, allowing developers to begin building and testing their applications in a simulator. However, a simulated environment cannot fully reproduce the experience of using software on the actual hardware.
Developers could submit their updated apps to Apple for review only from October 8, leaving roughly two weeks before the phone went on sale. Within that period, they had to redesign interfaces, write and test code, address potential problems and submit their work for approval.
That timetable helps explain why some applications may look out of place on the iPhone Duo. On the outer display, certain interfaces can feel cramped, while on the unfolded screen, apps may occupy only a portion of the available space instead of taking advantage of the wider layout.
These issues are not necessarily permanent limitations. Developers can redesign their interfaces to accommodate both displays and make better use of the extra room. However, the amount of work required will vary between applications, particularly those with complex layouts or features.
Apple has also faced criticism over the device’s weight, but that is a separate concern tied to its physical design. App compatibility, by contrast, can improve through software updates.
Microsoft Word and Outlook are coming later
One of the more notable names missing from the launch-day software line-up is Microsoft. Apple says Microsoft Word and Outlook will be available for the iPhone Duo in the coming weeks, rather than immediately.
Microsoft’s eventual support is important for a device that aims to offer more screen space for work as well as entertainment. Word users could benefit from a wider editing area, while Outlook could make it easier to view emails and other information together. Those possibilities, however, depend on how the applications are ultimately adapted.
The delay also highlights a broader challenge for Apple. Even if its own applications and a selection of prominent third-party services are ready, the company cannot guarantee that every developer will deliver an optimised experience at launch.
Some developers may choose to wait until they have access to physical devices before making substantial changes. Others may have started work early but missed the deadline, while some could decide that adapting their apps is not a priority.
For buyers, the practical experience will therefore depend on the applications they use most. Those relying on software that has not yet been updated may encounter layouts that do not take full advantage of the foldable design.
The situation is likely to evolve as more developers gain access to the device and release updates. Buyers whose pre-orders arrive later, potentially in January 2027, may find that more apps have been adapted by then.
