Best video apps for iPhone Duo

Netflix, Prime Video and Paramount+ are among the streaming apps Apple highlights for the iPhone Duo's 7.6-inch inner display in its October newsroom post on Duo apps. Most other big services don't mention the Duo on their App Store listings yet. Other categories are in best apps for iPhone Duo and best reading apps. Prices are US, as of Nov 5, 2026.

Why video looks different on the inner display

Apple's spec page lists the inner display at 1878 by 2670 pixels, which works out to about 1.42:1 (our calculation). MacRumors reports that Apple uses a 1:1.4 ratio for both displays and notes that this is close to IMAX's 1.43:1 full-frame format. So 16:9 video, on paper, fills the width but only about 80% of the height, leaving bars above and below (our calculation).

App bars are separate. Look for the "Made for iPhone Duo" label: MacTrast reports optimization needs the iOS 27.1 SDK or later, and apps built with the iOS 26 SDK or earlier sit centered with empty space around them. Mrwhosetheboss contrasted Books and Netflix with YouTube, which showed black bars (his review summary).

Picture in Picture, Split View and the half-folded position

Apple describes apps that change when the Duo is partly folded on a table, but the spec page doesn't name a tent or laptop mode. In Split View the divider can't be dragged, so each app gets half, per iThinkDifferent, and TapSmart says it works only in landscape.

In portrait, MacRumors explains a workaround: start Picture in Picture in an app that supports it, such as Apple TV, open a non-video app, then tap the icon in the floating window to stack the video above it. TapSmart adds that folding the phone partway with a video pinned expands the video to fill the top half. More on that: how to use Split View on iPhone Duo.

The picks

Netflix

Apple says Netflix lets you scroll through Clips on the outer display, then open the Duo to keep watching. Propped like a laptop, video plays on the top half with controls below, reports What's on Netflix. As of Nov 5, 2026, plans cost $8.99 a month for Standard with ads, $19.99 for Standard and $26.99 for Premium, per Netflix's help center. The limitation: the laptop layout comes from What's on Netflix's report, not from Netflix or Apple.

Prime Video

Apple says that when the Duo is partly folded, Prime Video plays on the top half while X-Ray details appear below. Prime Video comes with Amazon Prime at $14.99 a month or $139 a year, and Prime Video Ultra removes most ads for $4.99 a month, per Amazon. The limitation: live TV, events and sports can still show ads on Ultra, and the App Store notes don't mention the Duo.

Paramount+

Apple says Paramount+ gains fuller playback controls and more room to browse shows and live channels on the Duo. Essential costs $8.99 a month with ads, and Premium costs $13.99 a month, ad-free except live TV and with Showtime, per Paramount+. The limitation: downloads are a Premium feature, and the App Store listing says downloads expire 30 days after download or 48 hours after you start playing, whichever comes first.

Apple TV

Apple says its Apple TV app uses the larger canvas, and the App Store listing names iPhone Duo among compatible iPhones. The service costs $14.99 a month, with a free trial for new subscribers, per Apple's Apple TV page. The limitation: Apple hasn't described a half-folded layout for Apple TV.

Infuse

Firecore released Infuse 8.5.9 on Oct 26 with "Added support for iPhone Duo" in its release notes. Infuse is free; Infuse Pro costs $1.99 a month, $16.99 a year or $99.99 for lifetime access, with a seven-day trial, per Firecore. The limitation: Firecore staff said 8.5.9 is a first round of Duo optimizations, with some remaining issues slated for 8.5.10.

YouTube

YouTube is free, and YouTube Premium costs $15.99 a month, with Premium Lite at $8.99, per 9to5Google. The limitation: YouTube's App Store listing doesn't mention iPhone Duo, and version 21.44.4 lists only bug fixes.

Not documented for the Duo yet

None of these App Store listings mentions iPhone Duo, so check for the label after updates.

Downloads and storage

Offline viewing usually costs extra: HBO Max allows 30 downloads on Standard and 100 on Premium, Prime Video Ultra raises the limit to 100 from 25, and Paramount+ and Hulu list downloads as Premium features. Plex lists downloads as a Plex Pass feature. Planning to carry seasons for flights? See 256GB vs. 512GB before picking a storage tier.

Battery

Apple rates video playback at up to 31 hours on the inner display and 44 hours on the outer, or 26 and 37 hours streamed. On paper, the outer display buys you the most time on a long trip. More: iPhone Duo battery life.

Bottom line

Start with Netflix, which has the most documented Duo features. Prime Video suits watching propped on a table, Paramount+ Essential matches Netflix's ad plan at $8.99 a month, and Apple TV works with the Picture in Picture stack. For your own library, Infuse has Duo-specific release notes. YouTube viewers should wait for an update. Which streaming app do you open first?