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The iPhone Duo will be released on October 23rd with iOS 27.1. This version's code includes more standby views than Apple demonstrated during the presentation. Two of these views bring the cameras and controls from the home to the display when it's propped up.
Standby mode is one of the features Apple highlighted for the first foldable iPhone. When propped up, the device displays the clock, photos, or widgets, optionally on the inner or outer screen. Pricing, release dates, and technical specifications for the device can be found in the overview of all iPhone Duo data.
The additional views were discovered by user pdfu. He analyzed the language files in the iOS 27.1 simulator and got some of the views working in the existing standby renderer. He documented his findings in a thread on X on September 28th.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The code for iOS 27.1 contains five standby views that Apple has not yet revealed.
- Two of them relate to the home: a camera image or a grid of several cameras, as well as freely assignable control elements.
- In addition, there are two views with an artistic or animated character and one with Snoopy.
- According to Apple, standby mode is currently unavailable in the developer simulator for the Duo.
What Apple said about standby on the Duo
In its announcement about the iPhone Duo, Apple speaks of a major upgrade to standby mode. As soon as the Duo is set up, it switches to standby mode on either the outer or inner display and becomes a picture frame, clock, or display surface for widgets.
Unlike previous models, the Duo does not need to be plugged in for this to work, according to the English version of Apple's announcement. On all other iPhones, standby mode only activates when the device is charging in landscape orientation, as described in the standby mode setup guide.
The Duo stands upright in a half-open position on its own. The hinge must hold this position without giving way. Apple's hardware chief has made an explicit commitment to the durability of the fold.
Here's a deep dive into StandBy mode on iPhone Duo.
— pdfu (@itspdfu) September 28, 2026
Rushmore, the app meant to host the redesigned faces, is missing from the iOS 27.1 simulator.
But its localization strings reveal unreported faces, and I got some new faces running in the current renderer. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/lDQHOy5R0e
Five views Apple hasn't shown yet
In the code, the new views have English working names.
| Designation in the code | What can be deduced from the find |
|---|---|
| Home Camera | Image from a single camera or grid of multiple cameras |
| Home Modular | Freely configurable control elements for the home |
| Flow | According to pdfus's assumption, a form of reactive art |
| Fade | – |
| Snoopy | View featuring the Peanuts character |
These views would be in addition to the clock, photos, and widgets that Apple has already shown. The two Home views are likely to access cameras and devices set up in the Home app.
The discovery is solid as evidence of the code because it is based on language files and his own representations, and not on a secondhand claim. He does not mention a date.
Why the simulator doesn't show the views
Apple released Xcode 27.1 as a beta on September 18th. This gave developers the SDK for iOS 27.1 and a simulator that replicates the Duo's various positions. In the Xcode 27.1 release notes, Apple explicitly states that standby mode is not available in the Duo simulator. Therefore, the new views only appear in the language files and not in the user interface.
Version 27.1 remains exclusive to the Duo. All other iPhones will transition directly from iOS 27 to 27.2; Apple skipped a public beta testing phase for 27.1.
Snoopy on the third device
The Apple Watch has featured an animated Snoopy watch face since watchOS 10. The Apple TV has had a Snoopy screensaver since tvOS 18.2, which changes depending on the occasion and season. According to pdfus, the standby view on the Duo will be similar to this screensaver.
Apple is using the characters through its partnership with Peanuts, which has been extended until 2030. With this duo, Snoopy would thus appear in the third device category.
A small display for the home
We consider the two home views to be the more significant part of the discovery. A set-up duo with camera image and switches fulfills precisely the role that Apple reportedly envisions for its own smart home hub. According to a report from July, this hub's release has been postponed to sometime between October and early 2027.
A phone starting at €2,299 isn't a replacement for a device that's permanently located in the kitchen. We see its usefulness where the Duo is already placed, for example, overnight. If you've integrated cameras into the Home app, you'd then have their image directly on your nightstand.
Would you set up the Duo overnight as a small hub for cameras and lights, or would it just stay on the nightstand as a clock? Let us know in the comments which view you would choose.
