Apple says more than 100,000 apps are now built for the iPhone Duo, two weeks after launch

Open a new US$1,999 phone, unfold the big screen, launch a favourite app, and find it sitting beside a black bar instead of filling the space. In early reviews of the iPhone Duo, apps that didn’t yet fit the new screen were a common complaint. On 6 November, Apple answered it with a number.

“Well over 100,000” iPhone Duo apps are now built for the folding screen and live on the App Store. Apple said so in a statement carried word for word by 9to5Mac and TechCrunch. That is about two weeks after the phone went on sale on 23 October. For a first-generation foldable, the apps decide whether the big screen is worth the price. That matters to every owner, and to everyone still waiting for one.

Word, Zoom and 100,000 other iPhone Duo apps

The statement came from Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “It’s been wonderful to see how quickly developers have embraced iPhone Duo,” she said. She added that “the enthusiasm has been incredible.” Apple says thousands more Duo-ready apps are added every day.

Both outlets name the same new arrivals this week: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Zoom, Etsy and the camera app Halide Mark III. TechCrunch also lists NBA, NHL, LTK, Goodnotes and Extra, and notes that Netflix, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp were already ready. Apple’s own launch page in September showed apps such as Slack and Netflix on the Duo.

Apple has also been working with app makers in person. According to the statement, more than 2,000 developers attended over 50 Apple workshops in 19 cities worldwide. There, they tested their apps on a Duo with Apple’s help.

To help buyers find these apps, Apple says the App Store now marks them with a “Made for iPhone Duo” badge. 9to5Mac also reports two new App Store lists: “Popular Apps on iPhone Duo” and “Great Games on iPhone Duo”.

What “built for iPhone Duo” still leaves unclear

The number is Apple’s own, and Apple has not explained how it counts an app as “built for” the Duo. It has also not said how many apps are on the App Store in total, so we can’t tell what share of apps is ready.

The gap is not closed. TechCrunch reports that apps not yet updated show a black bar at the side. They may also hide some controls in an overflow menu, a “more” button that holds extra options. On its review unit, Spotify still showed that bar.

Supply is the other open question. The Duo sold out within hours of pre-orders opening, and delivery waits for online orders stretch into 2027. On its earnings call on 2 November, Apple said it is “hard to predict” when supply will catch up with demand, TechCrunch reported.

If you own a Duo, or are still waiting for one

If you already have one, update your apps first. Then check for the “Made for iPhone Duo” badge before you rely on an app for work. A black bar is the clearest sign the app isn’t ready yet.

If you are still waiting for a delivery, the app gap that reviewers raised is closing, but it isn’t closed. The hardware question from iFixit’s teardown of cracked Duo screens still has no answer from Apple. That may matter more than any app count.

If you build apps or run a small business with one, Apple’s workshops are a clear signal of where it wants developers to focus. Our reading: an app without a Duo layout may soon look dated to buyers who paid a premium price for their phone.

Fast progress, measured by Apple’s own ruler

On balance, this is good news. Getting popular work and media apps onto a new screen shape within weeks is quick, and in-person help for more than 2,000 developers shows real effort. For buyers who paid the US$1,999 starting price, that progress is what turns a big screen into a useful one.

The caution is fair, too. “Built for” is Apple’s count, with no definition yet, and well-known apps such as Spotify are still catching up. In practice, a milestone like this usually measures how many apps were updated, not how well each one uses the space. The better test is whether the apps people open every day feel made for the screen.

The next sign to watch is the badge itself. When it shows up on the apps you open every morning, and not only in Apple’s count, the Duo’s big screen will be doing its job.