Apple plans iPhone Duo Reachability update for later this year
Apple intends to add horizontal Reachability support to the iPhone Duo via a software update arriving later this year to aid usability.
Key points
- Apple plans to add Reachability to the iPhone Duo in a software update coming later this year.
- The new version reportedly shifts the interface horizontally rather than vertically to address width issues.
- The device launches in stores on October 23, but initial stock is limited and online preorders sold out.
Apple plans to introduce Reachability support for the iPhone Duo through a software update arriving later this year. According to WIRED’s Julian Chokkattu, the feature will address accessibility concerns on the device’s wider displays.
The iPhone Duo launches in retail stores on October 23. As Threat Times reported on October 21, online preorders sold out quickly, with some deliveries delayed until next year.
Context on the feature
Reachability is an accessibility setting available on other iPhone models. It allows users to swipe down on the bottom edge of the screen to lower the top half of the interface, making controls easier to reach with one hand.
Apple reportedly plans to offer a new version of Reachability for the Duo that brings content within reach horizontally rather than vertically. This adaptation addresses the device’s wide aspect ratio, which challenges vertical app usage.
Who is affected
The iPhone Duo features both inner and outer displays that are wider than those on other iPhones. One concern among users is that the UI favors right-handed use, as 9to5Mac’s Chance Miller confirmed in his review.
The forthcoming Reachability feature should help folks with small hands more easily access elements along the left or right edge of the screen. Apple did not specify if the feature will be available on both displays.
What should you do?
Users who have preordered the iPhone Duo should prepare for a device that lacks this specific accessibility feature at launch. They may need to rely on standard gestures or external support until the update arrives.
What to do and how to stay safe: Apple
- Check the iOS settings for Reachability availability once the vendor provides an update later this year.
- Evaluate whether the current vertical Reachability on standard iPhones meets your accessibility needs before switching.
- Monitor official Apple channels for the specific release date of the software update containing the feature.
- Consider the impact of the wide aspect ratio on one-handed use if you rely on accessibility tools.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
When will Reachability be available on the iPhone Duo?
Apple plans to add Reachability support to the iPhone Duo in a software update coming later this year.
How does Reachability work on the iPhone Duo compared to other models?
Apple reportedly plans to offer a version that brings content within reach horizontally rather than vertically.
Is the iPhone Duo available now?
The iPhone Duo launches in stores on October 23, but online preorders sold out and some deliveries are delayed.
