Apple’s iPhone Duo launch included a sharp jab at Android foldables: many apps are letterboxed on foldable inner displays, resulting in unusable black bars around video, compromised vertical scrolling, and a “square screen” gimmick. The criticism came from Apple’s John Ternus early in the keynote. Yet documentation shows the upcoming iOS 27.1 treats apps similarly when they haven’t been updated for the Duo’s dual-display foldable design. Apps without support will be centered in a portrait layout with black bars on the sides. The same restriction applies when apps aren’t updated for iOS 27.1 and don’t utilize the sidebar region below the fold.
The Turn to Foldables Is Slow for Developers
In Android’s early foldable years, many apps weren’t designed to handle odd aspect ratios. Android’s OS had to manage scaling—with some apps merely pasted into a smaller section of the screen. Over time, Google helped push support through APIs and made efforts so apps adapt better to displays like tablets or book-style foldables. For example, Instagram gained a tablet layout on Android long before Apple’s iPadOS did.
By contrast, Apple says it expects iOS developers to more rapidly update their apps for the Duo form factor. A preview of Slack was shown during Apple’s launch, demonstrating how a sidebar-enabled app could function across the Duo display, including the space beneath the hinge. Still, the documentation makes clear that until developers target iOS 27.1, apps will be boxed in on the inner screen’s portrait region. That means full use of the foldable layout will be delayed for many apps.
Why Apple’s Dig Hits Home
Apple’s mockery at Android’s foldables hinges on the long-standing issue of apps not being optimized—it’s a legitimate pain point. But the irony is that iOS, at launch on this new foldable Duo device, carries over the same limitation unless developers act quickly. Despite the company’s wider control over its ecosystem—where it can push updates and provide guidelines—universal app readiness won’t happen at day one.
Putting this into perspective: Android’s ecosystem has had years to build out responsive UIs and flexible layouts for foldables. Apple is just entering this segment. Its approach expects most apps to update swiftly. That may happen, given how much attention Apple’s developer base pays. But until then, iPhone Duo users will encounter many non-optimal experiences right in the inner screen—especially where older or less-maintained apps are concerned.
Ultimately, this episode reveals that folding screens are hard—not because of hardware, but because of software adaptation. Apple’s early critique of Android wasn’t entirely off the mark—but neither was the applause-worthy parts of Android’s journey. What matters now is how quickly developers embrace Duo support—or risk repeating Android’s past limitations. Watch for how iOS 27.1’s rollout plays out, what major apps get updated, and whether Apple can deliver on its promise of turning Duo’s two panels into a seamless experience.
