Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, has prompted indie developers to build apps that use its hinge and dual screens, and a wave of pitches has followed the launch. The apps range from games to productivity tools, with some existing titles adding Duo support and others built specifically for the device. Apple’s App Store marks the ones that make best use of the larger displays with a "Made for iPhone Duo" badge.
Battlefleet Duo turns the 7.6-inch screen into a board-game surface, showing a player's ships on the bottom display and the enemy fleet above in tabletop mode. Two iPhone Duo owners can play locally facing each other, much like the old Battleships game. Two battles are free daily, and a one-time $5 purchase unlocks unlimited play with no ads or subscription.
Flipcorder converts the Duo into a camcorder with a retro interface. The outer display shows a closed lens until the phone is opened, and footage carries VHS or MiniDV filters. Clips are cataloged by day and stitched into a single file, and the person being filmed can see a preview on the outer screen. That dual-display feature is limited to camera apps, so using the outer screen as a book cover is not possible.
RectoVerso, a $13 flashcard app, imports notes, PDFs or decks from Anki, or uses Apple Intelligence to generate cards automatically. Partially opening the Duo gradually reveals the answer, with the full answer appearing when the device is fully open. PianoFold is a rhythm game played at a 90-degree angle in which blocks reach the center crease and players tap the matching column. It offers 40 levels across eight chapters, the first two chapters free and full access for $5.
Toastie, a $3 app, has users assemble a sandwich on the inner screen and then close the phone for a set time to grill it. Portal plays relaxing soundscapes across more than 100 vistas, viewable in tabletop or tent mode, and includes breathing exercises and focus timers. It is free with three portals refreshed monthly; full access costs $3 a month, $30 a year or $100 for a lifetime membership. Fold Focus, a separate app, builds a pixel-animated city on the outer display while the phone is closed and resets it if the device is opened early.
FirstSeed Planner shows a calendar on one screen and a daily planner on the other, supports drag-and-drop between them and includes a notes area. It is free, with a Pro version at $3.49 a month, $30 a year or $90 for life that adds automatic backups and weather forecasts. The emulator Delta added iPhone Duo support in its largest update yet, with skins that turn the device into a Nintendo DS-style clamshell at a 90-degree angle and automatic sleep mode when closed; users must supply their own ROMs. Tiny Computers, a $4 app, houses 10 computers from the Commodore 64 to the iMac G3, pairing a vintage screen above a clickable keyboard in tabletop mode.
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