Developers Rework Apps to Shine on Apple’s Foldable Iphone Duo
WHO:
The Verge - Delta creator Riley Testut said the app’s controller skins are optimized for “every pose in both portrait and landscape.”
The Verge - Testut said the first custom Pokémon DLC was developed by the Pokémon ROM hacking community without AI tools.
Small Business Trends - Apple developers are reimagining applications for Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo.
Mashable - Mashable tested apps on Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo.
WHAT:
The Verge - Delta 2.0 adds Sega Genesis games, animated controller skins, custom Pokémon DLC experiences, and a redesigned interface for Apple’s Liquid Glass design.
The Verge - Delta 2.0 supports split-view multitasking while games run; folding the iPhone Duo puts emulated Nintendo DS games into sleep mode.
The Verge - Delta’s experimental features include support for Epilogue GB/SN Operator gadgets to play Nintendo cartridges on iPhone or iPad, and custom game filters.
The Verge - Delta 2.0 adds “recents” and “favorites” library pages, third-party animated controller skins, and global in-app purchases through a “Become a Patron” option.
The Verge - Delta will release on the EU App Store for the first time, alongside AltStore PAL in supported regions.
9to5Mac - Apple said the iPhone Duo’s inner display is 50 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s display.
9to5Mac - Apple said some third-party apps currently leave an iPhone app centered in a mostly black area of the display.
9to5Mac - Netflix Clips can be browsed on the outer display and continue on the inner display, switching between vertical and horizontal views. Prime Video displays playback on the upper half and X-Ray details on the lower half when the device is partially folded; Paramount+ adds expanded playback controls and browsing.
9to5Mac - MLB and PGA Tour apps offer live games, highlights, real-time scores, statistics, and leaderboards. MLB’s partially folded layout places the live game on the upright display half and statistics on the half resting on a table.
Small Business Trends - Apple says developers are reimagining apps for the foldable iPhone Duo.
Mashable - Mashable highlighted seven apps that look good on the iPhone Duo’s display.
WHERE:
Mashable - The apps were tested on the iPhone Duo’s large, folding display.
WHEN:
9to5Mac - Apple said Microsoft Word and Outlook would roll out desktop-class experiences in the next few weeks.
9to5Mac - Apple said it would highlight selected iPhone Duo apps and games on the App Store tomorrow.
WHY:
Small Business Trends - The developers’ work is described as pushing the boundaries of mobile technology and user experience.
HOW:
Mashable - Mashable tried a variety of apps on the foldable display.
(UPDATED October 22, 2026 22:12 UTC)
Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo is prompting developers to rethink how apps use a larger, flexible screen, while a major update brings new features to the Delta gaming emulator. Delta 2.0 adds Sega Genesis support, animated controller skins, custom Pokémon experiences, and an interface redesigned for Apple’s Liquid Glass style. Its creator says the first Pokémon add-on was made by ROM hackers without AI. The update also adds multitasking, favorites and recently played games, and will bring Delta to the EU App Store. On the Duo, Netflix can shift video between screens, while Prime Video and Paramount+ adapt their controls and layouts when the phone is partly folded. MLB and PGA Tour apps offer live scores, stats, and highlights; MLB can show the game on one half and statistics on the other. Apple says Word and Outlook will get desktop-class experiences in the next few weeks.
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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 20:21 UTC)
Apple says developers are reimagining apps for its foldable iPhone Duo, aiming to make better use of the device’s large, folding display. The work is being described as pushing the boundaries of mobile technology and user experience. Mashable tested a variety of apps directly on the Duo’s screen, looking at how they handled the expanded, flexible layout. Its testing highlighted seven apps that look especially good on the display. The findings offer a glimpse of how familiar software can be adapted for a foldable phone, rather than simply stretched across a larger screen. Developers are exploring new ways to present content and shape the experience around the device’s form. For users, the apps demonstrate the potential of a folding display to change how mobile applications look and work.