iPhone Duo turns into an iPad when opened: The new version of Apple applications has been revealed

Before Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, goes on sale, it has become clear how its applications will look on the new screen.

As the countdown continues for Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, it has begun to become clear what kind of experience the device will offer in daily use. New screenshots added to the App Store show in such detail for the first time how Apple's own applications work with the iPhone Duo interface. The resulting picture makes it clear that the phone will behave like a small iPad when turned on.

iPhone Duo interface resembles iPad

In most of the images, the device is turned on and used in a horizontal position. In this mode, many applications switch to a view similar to the layout on the iPad by devoting part of the screen to the sidebar. Applications that do not need a navigation bar use the entire screen; Applications with a bar can also be hidden with a single touch.

Some apps go beyond the sidebar, too. The People application divides the screen into two, showing the name list on one side and the editing area on the other. In the Siri application, past conversations are listed in boxes on the left, while the selected conversation opens on the right.

Dock and menus moved to the right edge

One of the most notable changes is in the layout. On iPhone Duo, the dock and navigation bars are positioned vertically on the right edge of the screen in both open and closed use. The only exception is if the device is kept upright while turned on. In this case, the menus remain at the bottom, as on a portrait iPad.

In editing-focused applications such as Preview, tool palettes are placed at the bottom of the screen. The combination of the large drawing area and the toolbar at the bottom gives a good idea of ​​what photo editing and drawing apps will look like on this device.

Home screen and Dynamic Island redesigned

The left side of the home screen is reserved for the Today view, which includes widgets, and the right side is reserved for application icons. The status bar has been moved to the upper right corner, and the flashlight and camera shortcuts have been moved to the lower right corner.

There is no Dynamic Island constantly visible on the inner screen. This is because Touch ID is used instead of Face ID on the iPhone Duo and the front camera is hidden under the screen. Still, Dynamic Island isn't going away completely. When Live Events and notifications arrive, they open from the side of the screen. On the 5.4-inch external screen, there is a small, vertical Dynamic Island that includes the camera.

Different usage positions are also supported

iPhone Duo is not limited to just on and off mode. To watch videos, the device can be used angled like a laptop, in a tent shape with the outer screen visible, or half-open like a book. It is also possible to run two applications side by side on the 7.6-inch internal screen and open multiple windows in Safari.

Deadline for third-party apps has begun

iPhone Duo goes on sale in more than 70 countries and regions on Friday, October 23. The starting price in the USA is $ 1,999. Developers can recompile their existing applications with Xcode 27.1 to make them compatible with the new screen. Apps that are not updated will continue to work but will not be able to use the entire screen. Apple will also require iPhone Duo screenshots to be included in all applications submitted to the App Store starting from April 2027.

I think Apple's smartest move is to try to keep the navigation buttons in the same place in every usage position. The most common complaint about foldable phones is that the interface that changes when opening and closing is confusing. iPhone Duo seems to be on the right track in this regard. But the real test will be how quickly third-party apps will adapt to this scheme.