With the arrival of the iPhone Duo, Apple has taken multitasking on the iPhone to the next level. The 7.6-inch foldable screen allows you to run two applications side by side for the first time, without having to continuously switch via the app switcher. The interface responds quickly and intuitively to gestures, making working or playing on an iPhone more versatile.
Although iPadOS has had variants of Split View for years, Apple has specifically adapted the multitasking experience for the iPhone Duo’s foldable screen. The distribution is always 50/50, which ensures a quiet screen layout and ensures that apps immediately display in their optimal format. In this tip we explain how to enable Split View, when it is really useful and how you can save your favorite app sets for later.
When is Split View useful?
Having two windows side by side on a phone sounds nice, but in practice there are a few specific situations where it saves you a lot of time:
- Two factor authentication and banking: Open your banking app on the left and your email or SMS codes on the right. No more hassle with quickly switching to remember a code.
- Take notes while reading: View a document, web page or email on one side, while you immediately work on your findings in Apple Notes on the other side.
- Planning holidays or outings: Keep Google Maps or Apple Maps open next to your favorite travel app or Safari to quickly compare locations and transfer addresses.
- Online shopping: Open two shopping apps or Safari tabs side by side to quickly compare prices and specs.
How does Split View work on the iPhone Duo?
Starting a split screen session requires just a simple gesture once the iPhone Duo is unfolded in landscape mode (landscape)
- Open the first app you want to use on the large inner screen.
- Swipe up slightly from the bottom of the screen.
- Drag the app to the left or right side of the screen, release.
- The screen will automatically free up space on the other side.
- Now choose a second app from the home screen, app library, or dock.
- Both apps are now next to each other, each with their own taskbar at the edge of the screen
You can close split view by pressing the center stripe drag left or right. The apps are automatically disconnected from each other. The compact outdoor display does not support Split View.
Drag and drop, drag to place
Just like on the iPad, but also on current iPhone models, you can easily drag text, photos or files from one screen to another with drag and drop. This way you can send a photo directly via messages, paste text into a document, etc.
Always 50/50 display, adjustment is not possible
When you use the iPhone Duo in landscape mode, Split View works in a very specific way. Where on an iPad you can flexibly adjust the ratio between two applications to, for example, 70/30 or 60/40, this is the case on the iPhone Duo not possible. The display in Split View is always strictly fixed to an equal 50/50 split. Two active apps always take up exactly half of the large inner screen, keeping the interface predictable and clear.
The well-known dividing line in the middle is therefore not there to change the size of the windows. When you drag the center line all the way to the left or right, you only use this action to Leave Split View. The app you swipe to closes, after which the remaining app is shown full screen again.
Sometimes also in portrait mode
Although Split View works best in landscape orientation, you can also use the function in portrait mode (portrait) in specific situations. This mainly works with video calling apps and media players: the video or conversation window automatically remains in the top half of the screen, while you can open a second app in the bottom half. For example, you can easily scroll through Notes or Safari while following a video meeting or playing a video at the top.
Save app combinations in the app switcher
Do you often use two apps together, such as Calendar + Reminders or WhatsApp + Safari? Then you don’t have to manually put them next to each other every time. Apple makes it possible to save app pairs:
- Make sure both apps are running in Split View.
- Tap the subtle dividing line in the center of the screen.
- Choose the Save app pair option (or tap the pairing icon).
How do you recall them later?
Once a combination is saved, it remains as one fixed ’tile pair’ in the app switcher (the multitasking view you access by swiping up from the bottom and holding it). When you go to the app switcher later, you will see the duo as one tile. One tap is enough to immediately open both apps exactly next to each other.
Apps change places
Want to quickly swap positions between the two apps in Split View? You can do this very easily with a short swipe gesture. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen on the app you want to move until the window pops off, then drag it to the other side of the screen. The two open apps immediately switch places.
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