Initial reactions to the iPhone Duo highlighted a lack of compatible apps at launch, causing some criticism toward Apple. However, the company reported swift progress in this area. As of Friday, over 100,000 apps tailored for the Duo are now available on the App Store, with thousands more being added daily.
This announcement coincided with the introduction of numerous new apps optimized for the Duo, including popular titles like Microsoft Word, Outlook, Zoom, as well as sports applications from the NBA and NHL, shopping apps such as Etsy and LTK, and productivity tools like Goodnotes and Extra. Noteworthy additions also include the Halide Mark III camera application, alongside existing Duo-ready apps like Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Using non-optimized apps is less than ideal, as they display a black bar on the side of the screen, which can clutter valuable real estate. Important functions may sometimes be obscured under an overflow menu.
Apple’s data indicates that some iOS developers required additional time to adjust their applications for the new device design. The company revealed that over 2,000 developers participated in more than 50 in-person workshops held across 19 cities globally, allowing them to experience the Duo and receive assistance from Apple while refining their apps.
Interestingly, the Duo has achieved more success than Apple anticipated, despite its steep price tag, starting at $1,999 for the 256GB version. The device sold out within hours of availability, leading to shipping delays extending into the next year. During a recent earnings call, Apple mentioned that it remains “hard to predict” when these supply chain issues will improve.
“It’s been remarkable to see how quickly developers have rallied around the iPhone Duo, and we appreciate their creativity and innovation,” stated Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, applauding the app milestone. She expressed excitement over the rapid updates and optimization for the Duo, noting the encouraging developer enthusiasm.
Significant updates for iOS 27 that have been adapted for the iPhone Duo include apps like Spotify, CBS, Tubi, BBC iPlayer (UK), Yahoo Fantasy Sports, Sportsnet (Canada), Facebook Messenger, Google Chat, ChatGPT, Grok Bot, Microsoft Copilot, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP Concur, monday.com, PDF Expert, 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.
It is important to mention that not all of these updates have been fully implemented yet. For example, Spotify is still displaying the black bar on the side of the screen, and the App Store does not indicate an available update on our Duo review unit. However, since this information is sourced directly from Apple, we anticipate these updates will be rolled out soon.
