TL;DR: Apple's first foldable iPhone is due out this Friday and when it arrives, users will have access to more than 50 apps that have been updated to leverage the device's unique form factor.
Unfolded, the iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display with nano-texture finish – in other words, it's essentially a pocketable mini tablet. That much real estate will make it ideal for media consumption, and it's no surprise that Apple has partnered with several of the top streaming services to dial in their apps ahead of launch.
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount+ were all mentioned by name in Apple's announcement, as were sports organizations like the PGA Tour and MLB. With the latter, fans can engage with live action and game stats simultaneously – simply set the iPhone Duo partially folded on a table and enjoy.
The Duo's big screen is also expected to have a big impact on mobile gaming. Apple Arcade titles like Retrocade and Sneaky Sasquatch are fully playable on the outer screen, but are said to deliver an even more immersive experience when played on the folding display. Other games like Asphalt Legends tap into the power of the A20 Pro SoC to maximize car and track detail.
Apple's latest is more than just a glorified toy, however. When productivity calls, apps from Microsoft, Zoom, Slack, and Salesforce can deliver a desktop-like experience on the portable screen. In Word, formatting tools sit alongside open documents for easy editing. When using Zoom, the inner display can serve as an immersive video conference room where users can share content with other meeting participants.
Apple isn't the first to market with an appealing foldable – in fact, they're quite late to the game. As other big brands pioneered in the emerging space, Cupertino sat back and took notes on what worked and what didn't. The Duo is the result of all those years of market research and for many, it'll be their first time interacting with a foldable.
The hardware looks solid enough for a first outing, but the software is what could make or break the folding iPhone. Apple holds a key advantage over rival Android device makers in that they control hardware and software under a single roof, allowing for seamless integration between the two. With the Duo due out later this week, we won't have to wait long to know if Apple has another hit on their hands.