Apple’s new vertical Dock on iPhone Duo appears to be limited to four app icons. The compact layout is a deliberate part of iOS 27’s foldable interface, but it may feel restrictive to people who prefer the larger Dock options available on other Apple devices.
Apple moved the Dock from the bottom edge to the right side of iPhone Duo’s large inner display to preserve vertical space for apps and content. Its own product announcement confirms the placement, while current software and demonstration imagery show room for four pinned apps.
Why the Dock moved to the side
In the iPhone Duo announcement, Apple says the Dock, Lock Screen controls and app navigation move to the side to maximize vertical space. That makes sense on the Duo’s wider display, where a conventional bottom Dock would take space from videos, documents and split-screen apps.
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The trade-off is capacity. Four icons can cover a person’s most-used apps, but it leaves no obvious room for a larger set of favorites. Apple has not said whether iOS 27.1 or a later update will offer more slots, folders, or an optional layout.
A software choice that could still change
The phone does not ship until October, so the interface may still receive refinements. Apple has said iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1, and it continues to provide developers with tools for its dual-display layouts. Our look at the Duo’s opening animation shows why those software details are drawing as much attention as the hardware.
For now, four apps appears to be the limit seen in the current interface, not a specification Apple has formally published. A future beta could change the capacity before customers receive the phone. Would you prefer a larger Dock, or does the side placement make four enough? Join the conversation in the comments.
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