Apple says 100,000 apps now support iPhone Duo
Apple says more than 100,000 apps now support iPhone Duo, as developers catch up after launch criticism and some updates are still rolling out.
Apple says the software gap around its new iPhone Duo is narrowing quickly. On Friday, the company said more than 100,000 apps are now built for the device and available on the App Store, with thousands more being added every day. The milestone follows early criticism over the limited number of Duo-optimized apps at launch. For a device with a new screen shape, that matters.
Early reviews of the foldable phone pointed to the small number of apps adapted for the Duo. When apps are not optimized, they can look awkward and leave screen space unused, which affects everyday use and can shape how buyers judge the product, as IT-PUB News notes.
Apple points to a wave of Duo-ready apps
Alongside the milestone, Apple highlighted more than a dozen apps that are now Duo-ready. The list includes Microsoft Word and Outlook, Zoom, sports apps from the NBA and NHL, shopping apps such as Etsy and LTK, productivity tools like Goodnotes and Extra, and the Halide Mark III camera app.
They join apps that were already optimized for the iPhone Duo, including Netflix, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp. Apple is clearly trying to show that the launch situation is changing and that the device’s app catalog is expanding fast.
Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said in a statement that developers have “embraced iPhone Duo” and that the company is grateful for their “creativity and innovation.” She added that Apple expects the pace of updates to keep accelerating as more apps are optimized.
Unoptimized apps remain easy to spot on the new screen
The difference between optimized and non-optimized apps is easy to see. Apple says apps that have not been adapted can show a black bar along the side of the screen, cutting into the usable area. In some cases, important functions may also be tucked away under an overflow menu.
For users, that can make the experience feel less polished than on a phone where apps are fully adjusted to the display. For Apple, it is a visible test of how quickly developers can adapt to a new form factor — especially one that is more expensive and more demanding than a standard phone.
Apple’s latest figures suggest some developers needed extra time to prepare their apps for the Duo. The company said more than 2,000 app developers took part in over 50 in-person workshops across 19 cities worldwide, where they could use the device and work on their apps with Apple’s support.
Strong demand raised the stakes for app support
The app rollout is happening against the backdrop of unexpectedly strong demand for the iPhone Duo. The device starts at $1,999 for the 256GB model, and Apple said it sold out within hours of orders opening.
That demand has led to long waits for buyers. Apple said Duo ship times have now moved into next year, and on this week’s earnings call the company said it is “hard to predict” when the supply constraints behind the delays will improve.
That mix of high price, strong demand and early software criticism makes app support especially important. Premium hardware can draw attention at launch, but the longer-term impression often depends on whether the software experience feels ready for daily use.
Apple lists more updates, but not all are live yet
Apple also listed a broad range of other apps that have been updated for iOS 27 and optimized for the iPhone Duo. The list includes Spotify, CBS, Tubi, BBC iPlayer in the U.K., Yahoo Fantasy Sports, Sportsnet in Canada, Facebook Messenger, Google Chat, ChatGPT, Grok Bot, Microsoft Copilot, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP Concur, monday.com, PDF Expert, Documents, iA Writer, Substack, The Washington Post, Yahoo News, FOX News, Kalshi, Yahoo Finance, Canva, Suno, Tinder, Google Translate, Strava, Alma, Withings, MyFitnessPal, Bevel, Transit, Citi Bike, ParkMobile, Viator, Tesla Robotaxi, Priceline, Kroger, Domino’s, Taco Bell, Untappd, The Weather Channel, FOX Weather and RainViewer.
Apple also noted that not all of these updates have fully rolled out yet. In practice, some users may still see older layouts in certain apps, at least for now.
The report says Spotify was still showing the black bar on the side on the review unit used, and the App Store did not yet indicate that an update was available there. Even so, because the list comes directly from Apple, the company is signaling that more of these updates should appear soon.
For Apple, the 100,000-app mark is evidence that developers are moving to support its newest device. For buyers, the bigger question is less about the number itself than how quickly the remaining gaps disappear in day-to-day use.
