It has been quite some time since I felt a genuine thrill about a new iPhone release. For many years, the introduction of a new iPhone signified a device that was slimmer, quicker, and equipped with a camera boasting remarkable enhancements. At some point—though Apple enthusiasts may debate which model this occurred with—the launch of a new iPhone transitioned into a series of incremental upgrades. Slight improvements in speed and performance were the norm, perhaps accompanied by a new button, a different charging cable, or a modified notch on the display, yet the iPhone itself remained the same rectangular glass and metal device it has always been. The iPhone Duo alters this narrative, enabling Apple to venture into the foldable phone market with a device that, despite its imperfections, is whimsical, enjoyable, and, indeed, genuinely exciting.
It is difficult to pinpoint when my desire for the iPhone Duo first emerged. I must confess that it did not occur during the official announcement, which left me somewhat bewildered regarding the device’s potential. I found myself questioning whether I truly wanted a folding phone. Was the ability to prop the device up like a little tent for watching Netflix worth the hefty price tag? (The Duo starts at $2,000.) However, my enthusiasm for the Duo gradually increased as I observed developers embracing the new foldable design to create apps optimized for the Duo. After all, it is Apple’s software development community that keeps me tethered to the iPhone. Apple developers are active, innovative, and engaged, often prioritizing iOS in their creations—a necessity for those who enjoy early access to new features.
Of course, initial reviews of the Duo have highlighted the fact that many mainstream iOS applications have yet to be adapted for the device, which is a valid observation. Numerous apps that users rely on daily were not optimized by the launch date, resulting in displays surrounded by black bars, controls positioned awkwardly, or requiring enlargement with a tap, reminiscent of the early days of running iPhone apps on an iPad. Nevertheless, the developers who have specifically tailored their applications for the Duo piqued my interest. Soon, my inbox was inundated with pitches for clever apps that I could not yet experience unless I acquired a Duo. Hello, FOMO.
The most impressive of these applications do not merely adjust their layouts to fit the foldable design; they utilize the varying screen sizes to enhance the app’s overall design. Below are some of my initial favorites, tested on a review unit provided by Apple.
Netflix
Image Credits: Apple
Let us begin with the essentials. Netflix is among Apple’s selected partners for the Duo launch and had its streaming app optimized for the Duo by the time the device was released, alongside others such as the MLB app, NYT Cooking, Slack, and my preferred calendar app, Fantastical. Netflix serves as an ideal demonstration of what I anticipate will be a common use case for the Duo: watching films and television shows. The streaming app has not only been expanded to occupy the full screen; it also capitalizes on the existence of two distinct screen sizes. On the outer display (the screen visible when the device is folded), users can scroll through Netflix’s short-form, TikTok-like “Clips,” and then unfold the device to continue viewing videos on the larger matte-screen inner display. The transition between these two experiences is as seamless as unfolding the Duo itself, with the content automatically adjusting to the new screen dimensions. As I find myself watching most television on my phone these days rather than on a large screen in the living room, I appreciate the ability to switch from a phone to a larger display with a single device. I foresee this becoming one of my most frequently used apps.
Deck-Man (Formerly Duo-Man)
Image Credits: Deck-Man
I must acknowledge that I predicted this back in September. I owe credit to Deck-Man, previously known as Duo-Man, for being the first app that ignited my desire to acquire a Duo. Created by indie developer Vidit Bhargava during a hackathon, this music player cleverly utilizes the Duo’s dual screens to mimic the functionality of traditional Walkman cassette players. The playful app reinterprets the cassette player as a digital experience with nostalgic elements, allowing users to browse their favorite albums as cassettes and load them into the player. Playback can be controlled with play, pause, fast-forward, and rewind buttons, reminiscent of a physical device, complete with authentic clicks and cassette sounds recorded from an actual portable cassette player.
With the Duo open, the cassette appears to play on the right side of the screen, adjacent to album artwork on the left. When closed, Deck-Man’s interface resembles the front of a Walkman. The app appeals not only because it has created something uniquely suited for a hinged, foldable device like the Duo, but also because it taps into the growing nostalgia for retro technology, which is partly a cultural response to the rapid pace at which the AI industry is producing new products. Retro technology, such as dumbphones, digital cameras, vinyl records, CDs, and landlines, evokes a time when technology use was intentional rather than seamlessly integrated into every facet of our lives. Frankly, if you purchase a Duo and do not install Deck-Man, I am convinced you simply do not know how to enjoy yourself.
Deck-Man is now Deck-Man! Expanding my app to provide a unique experience across all platforms, not just the Duo, so it was only logical to adopt a name that reflects that. See you on October 23 in the App Store!
TypeDraw
Image Credits: TypeDraw
The TypeDraw app is designed to function as a personal notebook, resembling a virtual Moleskine of sorts—it even features an elastic closure band. However, there is a certain charm in using this app specifically on the Duo, whose form factor makes it resemble a small notebook when closed. Within TypeDraw, users can type using a font that mimics their own handwriting or select from a dozen fonts created by its developer, Phil Traut.
Users can also choose the type of paper they wish to write on, such as lined, grid, or dotted pages, and select their ink color. Additionally, they can draw and sketch to create colorful images that accompany their handwritten text, making it feel much more like a real-life notebook for journaling or diary-keeping, rather than just another mundane to-do app. The pages curl as users flip through them, and they can even pull on the elastic band to produce a playful twang animation that adds a touch of whimsy. I transformed the iPhone Duo into a tangible notebook where you can write anywhere in your own handwriting or with one of the twelve fonts I designed myself. Type or draw, then close it. The next time you open the book, it displays your most recent note or the one captured closest to your current…
Wakeout
Image Credits: Wakeout
Wakeout, the workout app that previously won Apple’s App of the Year award, has also approached its Duo optimization with care by designing distinct user interfaces for each position the phone can assume. The app, which offers a series of mini movement breaks that feel more like games than exercise, operates seamlessly whether the Duo is closed, open, in tent mode, or positioned like a laptop computer.
For instance, when the Duo is open like a book, the view is split across the hinge, with movement game videos displayed on the left. However, when it is opened like a laptop, the videos shift to the vertical screen. Users can also place it in tent mode, which is ideal for watching the videos with the Duo propped up on their desk. (Most individuals utilize Wakeout at work, taking quick stretch breaks after prolonged periods of sitting at a desk.) If the app is running on a closed Duo, its row of navigation tabs transforms into a slim side menu in the column beside the camera, allowing the phone’s small screen to utilize the entire display.
Flighty
Image Credits: Flighty
Already my preferred travel app, the Apple Design Award-winning Flighty provides comprehensive information regarding upcoming flights, including gate updates, delays, airport conditions, and even the type of aircraft being flown. On the iPhone Duo, when open, the app capitalizes on the expanded screen space to extend its map to the edges, enabling users to view more of their flight path on a globe that spins beneath their fingertips. When the Duo is open, flight details shift to the left side of the screen, but do not occupy the entire side. Instead, most of the display is dedicated to the globe image, allowing users to zoom in on various flight paths as they plan their journeys. The app also supports split-screen functionality, enabling users to track their flight while simultaneously engaging in other activities—such as watching their favorite TV show.
Moreover, Flighty has introduced a new feature called En Route Mode specifically for the Duo. In this mode, the Duo is folded into a tent shape and placed on a flat surface—such as an airplane’s tray table—allowing users to monitor their flight’s progress via Wi-Fi while engaging in other activities, like listening to music, reading a book, or watching a movie from the in-flight entertainment system.
Tiny Computers
Image Credits: Tiny Computers
Designed specifically for the Duo (and for tech
