Apple says more than 100,000 apps built for its foldable iPhone Duo are now available on the App Store. The company also says thousands more are being added each day, as developers work to make their apps fit the device’s larger screen.
The announcement marks a shift from the early days of the Duo’s launch, when reviewers noted a lack of apps designed for its form. Apple highlighted new and updated apps across work, sports, shopping, news and entertainment. Yet the rollout is not complete: some updates have not reached every user, and an app without Duo support can still leave a black bar beside its content.
Apple names new apps made for the Duo
Among the notable additions Apple announced on Friday are Microsoft Word and Outlook, Zoom, and sports apps from the NBA and NHL. The list also includes Etsy and LTK for shopping, Goodnotes and Extra for productivity, and Halide Mark III for photography. These apps join Duo-ready versions of Netflix, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp, which were already available.
Apple also named a broad set of apps updated for iOS 27 and optimized for the Duo. The company’s list covers music, messaging, travel, fitness, finance, news and food. Examples include Spotify, CBS, Tubi, Facebook Messenger, Google Chat, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Excel, PowerPoint, Canva, Strava, Priceline, Kroger and Domino’s. The breadth matters for people who plan to use the Duo for more than calls and video. Still, a name on Apple’s list does not mean an update is live on every device.
- Work and writing: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Goodnotes, Extra, monday.com, SAP Concur, PDF Expert, Documents and iA Writer.
- Sports and fitness: NBA and NHL apps, Yahoo Fantasy Sports, Sportsnet, Strava, MyFitnessPal, Bevel and Withings.
- Media and communication: Zoom, Spotify, CBS, Tubi, BBC iPlayer, Facebook Messenger, Google Chat and Substack.
- Shopping, travel and local services: Etsy, LTK, Viator, Priceline, Kroger, Citi Bike, ParkMobile and Tesla Robotaxi.
- News, weather and other tools: The Washington Post, Yahoo News, FOX News, Yahoo Finance, The Weather Channel, FOX Weather, RainViewer, Google Translate, Tinder and Suno.
Examples from Apple’s app update list
| Area | Apps cited by Apple | What users should know |
|---|---|---|
| Work and productivity | Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Goodnotes, monday.com | Apple says these apps have been optimized for the Duo, though updates may not yet be live for everyone. |
| Video and communication | Zoom, Netflix, YouTube, Facebook Messenger, Google Chat | Some Duo-ready apps were available before Friday’s announcement. |
| Shopping and travel | Etsy, LTK, Viator, Priceline, Kroger | These are among the apps Apple included in its update list. |
| News and weather | The Washington Post, Yahoo News, FOX News, The Weather Channel, RainViewer | Check the App Store listing on your device to see whether an update is available. |
More apps may improve the experience, but gaps remain
Apps designed for the Duo can use its screen without the black bar that appears with some apps that have not been optimized. That bar takes up screen space. In some cases, important functions may also sit inside an overflow menu. These are practical differences, not just details in an app description. They can affect how much of a page or tool is visible at once.
Apple says developers have been getting direct support as they adapt their apps. More than 2,000 app developers attended over 50 in-person workshops across 19 cities worldwide, the company said. At the workshops, developers could use the Duo and work on their apps with Apple’s support. Apple’s figures suggest that many developers have put time into the new form, but the company did not say that every app on the store is ready for it.
There is also a gap between an announced update and one a user can install. The report noted that Spotify still showed a black bar on the side of the screen on its review unit, and that the App Store did not show an update as available on that device. Apple supplied the app list, and the report said it expects to see the updates soon. For now, users should treat the list as a sign of what is coming, not proof that every change has rolled out.
That distinction is useful for people deciding whether the Duo suits their daily needs. A buyer who depends on a particular work, travel or fitness app may want to check that app on the device and look for an available update. The total number of Duo-built apps gives a broad view of developer activity. It does not confirm that any one app has completed its update or works as expected on every Duo.
What Duo buyers can check before relying on an app
Open the App Store listing for the apps you use most and check whether an update is available. If you already have the Duo, open the app and look for a black bar or controls that are harder to find. This simple check can help you see whether the current version suits the larger screen. If an update is not listed, Apple’s announcement alone does not mean it has reached your device.
For buyers who have not ordered, consider the apps that matter most to your work and daily routines. The announced list covers many fields, but Apple says not all updates have fully rolled out. It is also worth weighing app support against the Duo’s price and delivery timing. The 256GB model starts at $1,999, and Apple said this week that it is “hard to predict” when supply limits causing delivery delays will improve.
Why the app news matters as Duo orders outpace supply
The software update comes as the Duo appears to have drawn stronger demand than Apple may have expected. The device sold out within hours after orders opened, and shipping estimates have moved into the next year. Apple did not give a date for when those delays will ease. On its earnings call this week, the company said it was hard to predict when the supply constraints would improve.
That leaves buyers weighing two separate questions: whether the device is available, and whether the apps they need are ready. Apple’s count of more than 100,000 apps points to a large pool of Duo-built software. The daily additions the company reports suggest the list is still growing. But the Spotify example shows why a headline count alone may not answer a buyer’s questions about a specific app.
Apple’s Susan Prescott, vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said the company was pleased by how quickly developers had embraced the iPhone Duo. She also said Apple was grateful for their creativity and expected the pace of updates to keep accelerating as more apps are optimized. That is Apple’s outlook, rather than a guarantee about when any particular app will be updated.
For current owners, the most useful next step is to check the apps they rely on, rather than assume every app in a broad announcement is already ready. For prospective buyers, the same check can help set expectations before paying a starting price of $1,999. App support is expanding, but availability can vary by app and update timing.
Trending FAQ
How many apps are built for the iPhone Duo?
Apple says more than 100,000 Duo-built apps are live on the App Store. The company also says thousands more are being added each day.
Which apps did Apple highlight?
Apple named apps including Microsoft Word and Outlook, Zoom, NBA and NHL sports apps, Etsy, LTK, Goodnotes, Extra and Halide Mark III. Its wider update list also includes Spotify, ChatGPT, Excel, Canva, Strava and many others.
Are all the announced app updates available now?
No. The source report says some updates had not fully rolled out. It also noted that Spotify still showed a black bar on the review unit and that no update was available there at the time.
How much does the iPhone Duo cost?
The 256GB model starts at $1,999, according to the supplied source. Apple said it was hard to predict when the supply constraints behind delivery delays would improve.