Apple’s first foldable iPhone is getting attention from developers before its retail launch. Tim Cook, Apple’s board chair, has shared a preview of iQIYI’s new interface designed for the iPhone Duo.
The app is designed to make use of the device’s larger inner screen. Instead of simply stretching a normal phone interface across the display, it separates video playback from the controls used to manage the viewing experience.
A screen that works in two parts
The demonstrated interface supports a flexible viewing position. When the device is partially folded and placed in a supported position, the upper screen can play a video while the lower screen acts as a control panel.
Users can adjust playback, move through the video timeline, pause or resume content, choose picture quality, control comments, and change volume or brightness from the lower section.
This approach makes use of the foldable design instead of treating it as a regular phone with a larger screen. It could also make hands-free viewing more convenient when users want to watch content on a desk or table.
Why app optimisation matters
A foldable phone can offer more screen space, but the hardware alone does not guarantee a better experience. Apps need to understand how the device is folded, how much screen space is available, and which controls make sense in each position.
Streaming services are a natural fit for this kind of design. Video can occupy the main viewing area while playback controls, recommendations, or other functions use the remaining space.
Developers will also need to consider how their interfaces behave when the phone is fully opened, partly folded, or used in portrait and landscape orientations. A good experience should remain consistent as the device changes position.
What this means for the iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable smartphone, and its success will depend partly on how well applications take advantage of the larger screen. Strong hardware is important, but users will want everyday apps to offer meaningful improvements over a standard phone.
iQIYI’s demonstration is an early example of a streaming service building around the foldable format. Other categories, such as reading, video editing, productivity, and gaming, could also benefit from interfaces that adapt to the screen’s shape.
For more Apple coverage, read about the reported Apple hardware roadmap, Final Cut Camera on iPhone, Apple Pay in India, and reported iPhone production changes.
Passionategeekz Take
The iQIYI demonstration shows why foldable software matters as much as the hardware. A larger screen is most useful when apps give it a clear purpose. If more developers create layouts like this, the iPhone Duo could offer a more flexible viewing experience than a conventional phone.
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