9 Unique Apps to Try on the iPhone Duo

Despite seven years of Android folding phones, Apple's iPhone Duo launch has spurred developers to create quirky, weird, and fun apps that experiment with the folding design (leaving Android owners feeling like second-class citizens yet again).

I've reviewed almost every folding phone in the past decade, and my inbox has never seen this many app pitches from indie developers wanting to show off their app for Apple's first foldable.

Some of these apps aren't necessarily new but use the phone's hinge to offer fresh experiences. You'll also find a “Made for iPhone Duo” badge on apps that make best use of the larger screens on the App Store. From a game that has you closing the phone to grill a piece of toast to a clever way to memorize flash cards, here are nine unique apps to try on your new Apple handset.

Battlefleet Duo

Board games will have a field day on the iPhone Duo, and Battlefleet Duo is the best example. On the larger 7.6-inch screen, you get a sprawling canvas, but in tabletop mode, you can view your ships on the bottom screen and the enemy's fleet above. That's especially great if you have a friend with the iPhone Duo, as you can play local multiplayer and sit across from each other just like you would with the old-school Battleships. You can play two free battles every day, or unlock unlimited battles with a one-time $5 purchase—no ads or subscription.

Flipcorder: Retro Camcorder

Reminiscing about the long-lost days of the pre-smartphone era? Flipcorder offers simple pleasure, turning your iPhone Duo into a camcorder, so you can make new memories that feel like the old days. Open the app, and the outer display will show a “closed lens”—open the Duo to “take the cap off,” then start recording. The user interface is retro, and video clips have a filter to emulate VHS (it has a MiniDV filter too). I really like that you can view your “tapes” and everything is cataloged by day, so you can see 30 minutes of footage in one stitched-together clip.

As you’re recording, the person on the other end can see a preview of the video on the outer display—that kind of dual-display experience is only available to camera apps, so if you were hoping to read a book and have the outer display appear as the book cover, that's sadly not possible at the moment.

RectoVerso: Flashcards

Flashcard apps are a dime a dozen, but nothing quite captures the physical experience of flipping around a flashcard like RectoVerso. This $13 app lets you import your own text—your classroom notes or even a PDF—and uses Apple Intelligence to automatically create flashcards on the subject matter. Alternatively, you can import decks from Anki, another popular flashcard app, or write your own. The magic is when you're actually studying. Don't know the answer? Slightly open the iPhone Duo, and the answer will gradually appear—fully open, and you get the full answer. That way you can bang your hand on the desk and say, “Ah, I totally knew that.”

PianoFold

Who doesn't love a rhythm game? Pop your iPhone Duo into a 90-degree angle and let the blocks in PianoFold reach the middle crease—that's when you tap the corresponding column. You need to time your taps perfectly, unless you enjoy listening to Bach get butchered in real time. There are 40 levels across eight chapters, and the game rates your performance (out of three stars) at the end of each song. You can retry as many times as you'd like. The first two chapters are free, though you can also play one song for free every day. For full access, you'll have to pony up $5. There are no ads and no subscription.

Toastie

When I showed my wife Toastie, she remarked that it might be the first time she ever wanted an iPhone (she uses a Pixel). That's high praise! This delightful $3 app asks you to construct a sandwich on the iPhone Duo's inner screen. Each recipe has specific instructions you have to follow, and when you're done, you'll need to close the iPhone for a few seconds—however many the recipe says—to “grill” your sandwich. Open the phone back up, and it's ready to serve! That is, if you haven't burned it. There are only 10 recipes, so you'll probably get through this quickly. But hey, at least you can say you've used the world's most expensive toaster.

Portal

Want to focus? Or relax? Portal lets you play relaxing soundscapes—listen to a volcano's bubbling lava or waves crashing on a beach—but you can also see these sights on the Duo's 7.6-inch canvas, in tabletop mode, or on the outer screen in tent mode. It's very relaxing and an excellent companion for travelers who rely on a sound machine to fall asleep. You can also follow calming breath exercises, or set focus timers to get stuff done. The app boasts more than 100 vistas, from Iceland's black beaches to enchanting UK woodlands. The app is free, though you can only access three portals refreshed monthly. Full access costs $3 a month, $30 per year, or $100 for a lifetime membership.

If you like the idea of Portal, you might want to check out Fold Focus, though it's designed to help you get work done rather than relax. Close the Duo to focus on a task, and the pixel animation on the outer display will start building a city. Open your phone before the timer ends and everything will come crashing down.

FirstSeed Planner

Want to try a new calendar app? Maybe your current one isn't optimized for the Duo (ahem, Google Calendar). Try FirstSeed Planner. The developer has fully enabled Duo support, letting you view the calendar on one screen and a daily planner on the other. It supports drag-and-drop actions between the two halves of the screen, and I also love the space at the bottom for writing notes for the day. And when Apple enables stylus support on the Duo later this year, you can handwrite in FirstSeed, making your Duo feel more like a paper planner. It's free, but the Pro version costs $3.49 per month, $30 per year, or $90 for lifetime access. The paid versions unlock features like automatic backups and weather forecasts.

Delta Emulator

If you’re big on retro gaming, you’ve probably heard of Delta. The popular emulator just rolled out its biggest update yet, headlined by support for the folding iPhone Duo. Prop the Duo at a 90-degree angle, and custom skins transform the device into a classic clamshell like the Nintendo DS—complete with automatic sleep mode when you close it. Just remember: It’s strictly an emulator, so you’ll still need to source your own ROMs responsibly.

Tiny Computers

Bring your favorite PCs and Macs back to life with Tiny Computers. This $4 app houses a library of 10 computers, from the Commodore 64 to the iMac G3. Fold the Duo into tabletop mode to bring the museum of machines to life—a vintage screen up top and a functional, clickable keyboard below. The operating systems are interactive, so you can run retro paint apps, secret terminal commands, or kill time with classic desktop games like Solitaire.