Apple's iPhone Duo Brings iPad-Style Multitasking and Foldable-Only Software
Engadget reports Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, will arrive in October with iPad-style multitasking and software features unavailable on standard iPhones.
The interface has been revamped for the new screens. Apps can run side by side, and Apple Pencil now works on the iPhone Duo, Engadget said. The biggest change is multitasking: iOS has kept multiple apps suspended in the background since iOS 4, but it has never offered iPad-level multitasking. The iPhone Duo is the first iPhone with iPad-inspired multitasking. It does not include the full Stage Manager with floating windows, but users can open two apps side by side on the inner screen.
The entire iOS interface has been optimized for the Duo. One detail keeps the Home Screen accessible on one side of the inner screen while apps run on the other side. Users can pick two apps to run side by side, and some apps can take advantage of the larger inside display. The status bar is no longer at the top; it sits on the right side and has been redesigned. Cellular signal, Wi-Fi and battery indicators are grouped together to save screen space. The right side of the screen also holds the Dock and Dynamic Island.
The foldable form factor introduces other ways to use the phone. When folded in half, iOS puts inputs such as the keyboard on the bottom half while app content appears on the top half, which Engadget said is well suited to watching videos with the iPhone sitting on a table. Hinge awareness moves interactable elements away from the crease when tapping them might be difficult. In tent mode, the iPhone Duo becomes a table clock and even lights up the inner screen when an alarm goes off.
The new format also enables camera features exclusive to the iPhone Duo. Smart Take uses AI to take photos when the user strikes a pose, without pressing a button or setting a timer, according to Engadget. The external screen can be used as a live camera preview for filming with the rear camera or helping someone pose. A Kid Cue mode shows a Snoopy animation on the external screen so children look at the camera while a photo is taken. Engadget compared it to the Made You Look feature on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and newer models. On FaceTime, the iPhone Duo can show both the front and rear cameras, making it easier to bring nearby people into a call with video on the external screen.
Not everything matches Apple's top camera phone. Engadget reported that the iPhone Duo lacks many camera features found on the iPhone 18 Pro, including the new variable-aperture lens and pro controls. For people who want to try Apple's first foldable phone, the report described that as a fair trade-off.