Apple says over 100,000 apps now support iPhone Duo, with daily additions

Apple announced that more than 100,000 applications on the App Store are now optimized for the iPhone Duo, and the figure grows by several thousand each day. Early reviews had pointed out the scarcity of Duo‑ready software, noting that non‑optimized apps display a black side bar that reduces usable space and can hide key features. Apple’s data suggests many developers needed extra time to adapt their apps to the new form factor. To speed up the process, the company held more than 50 in‑person workshops in 19 cities, where over 2,000 developers could test the Duo with Apple engineers’ assistance. The Duo starts at $1,999 for the 256 GB model and sold out within hours of launch, forcing Apple to push shipment dates into the following year. On its recent earnings call, Apple said it cannot forecast when the supply constraints will ease. Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice‑president of Worldwide Developer Relations, praised the rapid developer response and said the company looks forward to faster updates as more apps become Duo‑compatible. However, not every app has been updated yet; for example, Spotify still shows the side bar and the App Store does not list a newer version for the Duo on the review unit.

Context

The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable phone, and app optimization is crucial for a smooth user experience on its dual‑screen layout. Developers typically need to redesign interfaces and test across the device’s unique screen ratios, which explains the initial shortage of compatible apps.