Full Breakdown
iPhone Duo’s Split View: How to Run Two Apps Side-by-Side
By Drooid · · How we work
Feature Overview
MacRumors explains that iPhone Duo is the first iPhone model capable of displaying two apps simultaneously on its 7.6-inch inner screen. In landscape orientation, the Split View mode places each app on half of the display, enabling multitasking that was previously limited to iPadOS.
Opening Two Apps in Split View
There are two supported methods.
1. From an active app – Swipe up from the bottom, pause in the center, then drag the app toward either edge. The app snaps to that half while the Home Screen appears on the opposite side, where you can select a second app via its icon, a swipe-down search, or the App Library.
2. From the Home Screen or App Library – Press and hold an app icon, choose Open in Split View, then pick the companion app using the same selection options.
Both approaches result in a 50/50 split; the divider cannot be moved to allocate more space to one app, as noted by MacRumors.
Creating and Managing App Pairs
With two apps already in Split View, tapping the divider locks them together as an “app pair.” The next time either app is opened, the paired app launches automatically. To unpair, drag the divider fully to the left or right; the displaced app closes while the remaining app expands to full screen.
Limitations
Practical Use Cases
The guide suggests common pairings such as Messages beside Maps, Safari next to Notes, or two instances of a multi-window-compatible app (Safari, Mail, Notes, Files) to view separate webpages or an inbox beside a draft. These configurations streamline workflows that previously required switching between full-screen apps.