Best apps for iPhone Duo

Apple's newsroom post on iPhone Duo apps names dozens of apps that use the 7.6-inch inner display, and MacRumors counted more than 50 third-party apps that are or will soon be optimized for the Duo. Work apps are in the best productivity apps for iPhone Duo guide, so this one sticks to watching, reading, drawing, travel, weather and games. Each pick has an Apple, developer or reviewer source for its Duo support.

Why "Made for iPhone Duo" matters

Apps need the iOS 27.1 SDK or later to carry the "Made for iPhone Duo" label, per MacRumors' report on the App Store label. Apps built with the iOS 26 SDK or earlier still run, but they sit in the center of the inner display with empty space on each side.

Video and streaming

Netflix

Apple says Netflix clips play on the outer display, and opening the phone continues the video on the inner display. Macworld describes a propped L-shaped mode with video on top and controls below, and Tom's Guide said the app was "built from the ground up" for the Duo. The app is free, but the catch is a paid membership, with in-app plans listed at $17.99 and $24.99 on Netflix's App Store page as of Nov 3, 2026.

Apple TV

Apple names its own Apple TV app among those already using the larger canvas. iOS 27.2 brought Multiview to iPhone, with up to four live sports streams at once, and 9to5Mac expects the Duo's big screen to suit it best. Apple TV costs $14.99 a month or $119 a year as of Nov 3, 2026, after an August increase, per iClarified. The limitation: Multiview only covers live sports included in the subscription, and 9to5Mac tried it on an iPhone 18 Pro, not a Duo.

MLB

Apple says that when the Duo is partly folded on a table, MLB plays the game on the upright half and fills the lower half with stats. Version 26.18.3 (Oct 21) says the app is now optimized for iPhone Duo, with a redesigned tab bar and scoreboard layouts for every orientation, per MLB's App Store page. The app is free, with MLB+ at $5.99 a month and MLB.TV at $29.99 a month as of Nov 3, 2026. The limitation: MLB.TV is the most expensive monthly option listed, and the App Store listing doesn't say which plan you need for live games, so check before you subscribe.

Reading and news

Inoreader

Inoreader added iPhone Duo support in version 7.11, and version 7.11.3 (Oct 23) adds larger text for article lists, per Inoreader's App Store release notes. It's free, with a Pro plan listed at $9.99 or $8.99 a month, or $89.99 a year, as of Nov 3, 2026. The limitation: the notes confirm support but don't describe the Duo layout, so check the screenshots.

Drawing

Freeform

iOS 27.2 added Apple Pencil support for iPhone Duo, per MacRumors, and Apple's spec page lists Apple Pencil (USB-C) under both displays. MacStories found writing in Notes and Freeform felt natural. Freeform is one of Apple's built-in apps, and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is $79 on Apple's store page as of Nov 3, 2026. The limitation: Apple says hover doesn't work with that Pencil on iPhone Duo, and iThinkDifferent reports Apple Pencil Pro isn't supported. None of the sources checked for this guide named a third-party drawing app with Pencil support on the Duo. More on setup: how to use Apple Pencil on iPhone Duo.

Travel, weather and the night sky

Flighty

Apple says Flighty has a dedicated flight-tracking mode when the Duo is propped up. It's free, with Flighty Pro at $5.99 a month, $47.99 a year or $249 lifetime on Flighty's App Store page as of Nov 3, 2026. The limitation: the current 3.4.3 release notes don't mention iPhone Duo, so Apple's description is the only detail.

CARROT Weather

Version 6.9.2 (Oct 9) "Added iPhone Duo support," and the listing promises bigger weather maps and side-by-side radar, per CARROT's App Store page. Tom's Guide praised its layout on the Duo. It's free, with CARROT Premium listed at $4.99 a month or $19.99 a year as of Nov 3, 2026. The limitation: the listing shows several Premium, Mini and Ultra prices without saying which billing period most of them cover.

Sky Guide

Version 13.1 says Sky Guide is now optimized for iPhone Duo and expands as you unfold the display, per Sky Guide's App Store page. Apple adds that star maps run edge to edge on the inner display. It's free, with PLUS and PRO purchases from $4.99 and a $249.99 PRO Lifetime option as of Nov 3, 2026. The limitation: the listing doesn't say which billing period each PLUS or PRO price covers.

Games

Subnautica

Version 1.2.7 (Oct 22) adds iPhone Duo support, per Subnautica's App Store page, which lists the game at $8.99 with no in-app purchases as of Nov 3, 2026. Mobilegamer.biz reports that Playdigious, which handles the mobile port, calls five of its games, including Subnautica, fully iPhone Duo compatible. The limitation: the notes don't say how controls change on the inner display.

PianoFold

PianoFold is built for the Duo: you fold it like a laptop and tap tiles on the bottom half, across 40 levels in eight chapters, per BGR. BGR says it's free to download with a one-time $4.99 unlock; that's BGR's figure, not checked against the App Store as of Nov 3, 2026. The limitation: Tom's Guide found it hard going, so it suits players who want a challenge.

Not ready yet

Mrwhosetheboss's review contrasted Books and Netflix with YouTube, which showed black bars on the inner display (his review summary). Gulf News reported that Marques Brownlee said Google apps such as Gmail and Google Maps hadn't been optimized at launch (MKBHD summary). Apple said on Oct 22 that UnGodly launches in November and that Zenless Zone Zero would be updated for iPhone Duo in November.

Bottom line

For watching, Netflix has the most documented Duo features here, and MLB is the pick for baseball fans. Readers get the most for free from Inoreader's free tier, and sketchers should start with Freeform and the Apple Pencil (USB-C), $79 as of Nov 3, 2026. Travelers and stargazers should try Flighty and Sky Guide, and gamers can pick between the premium Subnautica and the free-to-start PianoFold. The propped modes work best with a stand or the iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand.