Apple’s iPhone Duo launch hampered by app‑size bugs and exclusive iOS 27.1 update

The foldable’s debut is marred by unoptimised apps and a software update that only the Duo receives.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 23 Oct 2026 20:22:26 GMT

Apple released its $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo on October 23, 2026, but reviewers noted that many popular apps display large black bars and that the device runs a software version, iOS 27.1, unavailable on any other iPhone model.

What happened

On launch day the iPhone Duo became available in the UAE and online, with the entry‑level 256 GB model priced at Dh8,499. Shortly after, tech vlogger Marques Brownlee posted a video showing several apps – including Google Gmail, Google Maps, Spotify, Discord and X – rendering as tiny iPhone windows on the Duo’s large inner screen, leaving a vertical black bar on the right side. The same video highlighted that some apps open on the outer 5.4‑inch display while running as reduced‑size versions on the 7.6‑inch inner screen.

What the reports add

Gulf News reported that Brownlee’s post, which has already amassed 10 million views, demonstrated “unoptimised” apps behaving as they would on an older iPhone, with buttons in their usual places and a large empty space on the right side of the screen. The outlet also cited Dexerto’s list of affected apps, adding Waze and noting that early adopters such as Instagram and Carrot Weather have already released Duo‑optimised updates.

9to5Mac explained that the same day Apple pushed iOS 27.1 over the air, but the update is hidden from the Settings app and appears only on the iPhone Duo. All other iPhone models show iOS 27.0.1 as the latest version and will skip directly to iOS 27.2, which is in beta and slated for release next week.

What was said

Marques Brownlee told Gulf News that many apps “still don’t know what to do with a screen this big,” and that the black bar “wastes the Duo’s inner display.”

9to5Mac quoted the outlet’s analysis that Apple likely kept iOS 27.1 exclusive to the Duo to “bypass a beta cycle” and keep details of the new foldable hidden until its official launch.

How it came about

Apple introduced a “Made for iPhone Duo” badge on the App Store on October 22, promising collections of apps optimised for the larger inner screen. The badge was part of a broader effort to encourage developers to adapt their software ahead of the Duo’s launch. Earlier coverage by Felo News detailed the pre‑order outage on October 16 and the high demand that pushed delivery dates into January 2027 for many UAE customers. The launch in Dubai on October 23 was accompanied by reports of camera trade‑offs compared with the iPhone 18 Pro.

These app‑size issues and the exclusive iOS 27.1 rollout illustrate the challenges Apple faces in bringing a foldable device to market, even as it pushes developers to adopt the new “Made for iPhone Duo” standards.

Key facts

Apple launched the $1,999 iPhone Duo on October 23, 2026. (gulfnews.com)
Many popular apps display a vertical black bar on the Duo’s inner screen. (gulfnews.com)
iOS 27.1 is exclusive to the iPhone Duo and hidden from the Settings app. (9to5mac.com)
Apple introduced a “Made for iPhone Duo” badge on the App Store on October 22, 2026.