Apple completely revamped iOS 27’s controls and apps for the iPhone Duo
iPhone Duo is also the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil.
iPhone Duo is also the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil.
by Sep 9, 2026, 6:12 PM UTC
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Terrence O’Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.
Obviously, part of the appeal of a foldable phone is all that additional screen real estate. That gives you plenty of room for some serious multitasking that just isn’t possible, or at the very least is clunky, on a smaller screen. Apple rarely does things without seriously considering all the implications, so it was never just going to shove iOS as is into its new foldable.
The company didn’t have to start from scratch or reinvent the wheel, however. It already had a mobile OS capable of multitasking in iPadOS, which was built on iOS to begin with. The company even said that the iPhone Duo was designed to be “as natural and intuitive as iPad.”
The traditional iOS 27 controls move to the side to make them easier to use when the phone is open, keeping them in easy reach of your thumb. iOS 27 also adjusts the layout of every app to take advantage of the increased interior real estate and the wider aspect ratio of the external screen.
iPhone Duo is also the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil. And you can use it on either the outer or inner display.
Because no other iPhone has ever had multiple screens or a flexible screen, Apple had to think about how to handle these new features. This means making it usable in a variety of orientations and poses. Hold the inner display partially open like a book, and iOS 27 moves content away from the fold, ensuring it remains visible. You can also fold it like a tent, place it on a table, and watch videos on the external screen.
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