Apple is reportedly working on an iPhone Duo Reachability mode that shifts the outer screen’s content to the left or right.
The movie is an (overdue) response to the criticism from left-handed iPhone users levied toward Apple’s first foldable ever since its September announcement. The outer screen’s Dock and other controls sit along the right edge, and this upcoming mode will make that arrangement easier on lefties.
iPhone Duo Reachability would move content sideways, not down
Some left-handed iPhone Duo owners find the external 4:3 screen awkward to use because Apple placed the navigation bar and other controls along the right edge. That arrangement can make common actions less comfortable when holding the phone in the left hand, forcing users to stretch their thumbs or adjust their grip to reach certain buttons.
Apple supposedly has a solution in the works. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on it in his latest Power On newsletter that “Apple is adding a new ‘Reachability’ mode that can move the main content to the left or right side of the outside display.”
The idea is supposedly borrowed from the Reachability mode Apple introduced with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus way back in 2014. The original feature pulled the top of the screen down, allowing users to operate their smartphone with one hand. It’s still in use today.
But, at this point, it’s not clear if the iPhone Duo version will let users move the Dock to the left side of the screen, or if everything on the screen will simply slide over when the user enters the correct gesture.
Early reports suggest lefties can already manage the outer screen
That said, based on early use and reviews, Gurman considers the navigation concerns overblown. Left-handed owners say the layout isn’t much of a problem in everyday usage.
The large inner display matters even less, he says, because people often use it with two hands.
Still, not everyone is so relaxed about it. And some left-handed users have flagged the awkward Touch ID button placement. That said, Reachability targets on-screen content, so it won’t likely change that.
Apple may bring Reachability to the Duo later this year
As for when iPhone Duo Reachability will launch, Gurman’s report doesn’t name the iOS update that will add the mode, and it’s also unclear if the inner display will get the feature.
The iPhone Duo went on sale October 23, so until the software lands, left-handed buyers who are still on the fence might want to test the phone in a store first.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
