Apple is now accepting iPhone Duo optimized apps and games in App Store Connect. Developers who recompile with Xcode 27.1 can submit before the foldable reaches customers on October 23.
Apple announced the change in a Developer News post on October 5. The post walks through building in Xcode, preparing App Store product page assets and submitting the app.
Recompiling With Xcode 27.1 Adds iPhone Duo Support to Existing Apps
Apple says recompiling an existing app with Xcode 27.1 adds development support for the iPhone Duo. Developers can then open Device Hub to see how the app behaves across all poses and orientations.
Apple’s developer site has an iPhone Duo page and a submission guide for the App Store side. Apps also need to hold up in Split View, which on the iPhone Duo uses a fixed 50/50 layout for two apps.
Xcode 27.1 first reached developers as a beta on September 19, when it added a virtual iPhone Duo to the iPhone Simulator. Our post on iPhone Duo app display modes explains what happens to apps that skip the update.
App Store Connect Will Require iPhone Duo Screenshots From April 2027
Starting in April 2027, any app or game submitted to App Store Connect needs screenshots for the iPhone Duo. Apple has already published updated screenshot and app preview specifications that cover the foldable, so developers can start building those assets now.
Apple says the updated specifications are meant to help developers showcase an app at its best across orientations. It also released design guidance and downloadable templates for new product page headers, search result assets, app previews, screenshots and In-App Events.
A new preview tool in App Store Connect shows how screenshots, product page headers and other metadata will look on an iPhone Duo product page. Teams can use it to check the page before they submit anything.
The announcement links four resources for preparing those assets.
- Design guidance and templates
- Managing App Store assets
- App preview specifications
- Screenshot specifications
Apple is also running in-person iPhone Duo workshops, and registration is open on its developer events page.
Here are the dates to keep in mind around the launch:
- October 5: App Store Connect starts accepting iPhone Duo optimized apps and games
- October 12: Get Ready opens for buyers
- October 16: pre-orders open at 8 a.m. Eastern Time
- October 23: the iPhone Duo reaches customers, starting at $1,999
- April 2027: iPhone Duo screenshots become mandatory for every submission
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, and the screenshot requirement kicks in about six months after launch.
