Apple entered the foldable phone market with the iPhone Duo, starting at $2,000, shifting away from minor yearly upgrades by introducing a whimsical device with two screens. While many mainstream apps faced delays or formatting issues at launch, independent and partner developers created creative, Duo-optimized programs that leverage the unique hinge and dual display sizes.

Netflix

Netflix joined the Duo launch as a hand-picked partner, offering a streaming experience tailored for two different screen sizes. Users can browse short-form clips on the outer display when folded, then unfold the device to watch full shows and movies on the larger matte-screen inner display with seamless transitions.

Deck-Man (Formerly Duo-Man)

Created by indie developer Vidit Bhargava at a hackathon, this music player mimics vintage Walkman cassette players using the Duo's dual screens. The app features retro cassette browsing, tactile playback controls, and authentic audio recordings from a real portable cassette player.

TypeDraw

TypeDraw functions as a virtual Moleskine notebook complete with an elastic closure band animation. Built by Phil Traut, the app allows users to write in custom handwriting fonts, choose paper styles, and sketch alongside text.

Wakeout

The workout app Wakeout adjusts its interface based on the phone's physical position, whether closed, fully open, in tent mode, or propped open like a laptop. When open like a book, movement videos appear on the left, while tent mode suits desk viewing.

Flighty

The travel app Flighty expands its interactive globe across the edge of the unfolded screen, keeping flight details on the left side. It also includes an En Route Mode designed for the Duo folded into a tent shape on a tray table.

Tiny Computers

Priced at a one-time fee of $3.99, Tiny Computers lets users interact with 10 retro computers, such as the Macintosh, Windows 95, and IBM PC, when the Duo is set in laptop mode. The app includes working command lines, games, and hidden files.

Sky Guide

Stargazing app Sky Guide uses the unfolded Duo display to offer an immersive, edge-to-edge map that adjusts to the user's orientation for tracking stars and planets.

MD Vinyl

MD Vinyl brings a vinyl record player aesthetic to the Duo, allowing users to manually pick up a virtual tone arm and place it onto a spinning digital record to control music playback.

Pico Cam

Pico Cam creates virtual Polaroid-style photos that eject from the Dynamic Island, using the Duo's open and closed states to provide extra screen space for viewing photo galleries.

Honorable Mention, sorta: Toastie

Toastie is a $2.99 novelty app that simulates cooking toast inside the folding phone, requiring users to wait for the correct cooking time before opening the Duo to earn a star rating.