This app recreates iPhone Duo's StandBy mode on any Android foldable

Even though it’s seven years late to the foldable party, the iPhone Duo brings features that could turn heads. The transition from the cover screen to the inner one, which gives the illusion of the front screen dissolving, is definitely one of them. Android enthusiasts and fans didn’t wait long after the iPhone launch to recreate this effect for Android foldables. Now, another highlight iPhone Duo feature is being recreated for any foldable phone running Android.

The iPhone Duo, just like several generations of iPhones prior, offers StandBy. Usually, when an iPhone is charging or docked on a wireless charger, StandBy turns it into a bedside clock or smart display that shows time, calendar, a world clock, your photos, and more. On the Duo, specifically since it lacks MagSafe support, StandBy activates when you place it half-folded on a flat surface. It works across multiple different orientations, such as when the iPhone Duo is opened like a laptop, in tent mode with the cover screen visible, or standing vertically like a card. For instances when the inner screen is visible, both faces can be used to display different things.

While Android foldables don’t get a dedicated Standby mode like the iPhone, you can use unofficial apps such as Standby Mode to recreate the different watch faces or screensavers. The app doesn’t automatically activate when the screen is half-folded or placed in a tent mode, but I’ve recently discovered another app that accomplishes that.

Foldy is an Android app for foldables that shows StandBy-like clocks, calendars, or photo galleries. It automatically detects when the phone is folded at an angle and placed on a surface, either in tent mode or like a laptop.

The clock faces appear on top of the lock screen, which means the phone remains locked when the clock appears. You can also choose to display the clock only in certain orientations, such as tent only, and even train the app to detect placements and orientations more accurately. The screen also automatically orients based on the side of the inner screen that’s facing outward versus the one that’s parallel to the surface.

The app also works for any standard slab phone, but the real benefits lie if you own a bookstyle or wide foldable. 

There’s one caveat, a big one, worth highlighting. With the free version of the app, you only get two options for the standby screens — a simple clock and a calendar. For more options, you can opt for a three-day trial followed by a monthly $1 subscription. You can also unlock the app fully for about $10 (prices may vary by region), but you must make the purchase in the app.

The paid version unlocks 50 different screen styles, including clocks, calendar, upcoming events, an image gallery with media from your Google Photos, and even Google Home controls. Before you purchase, I encourage you to try the app to get a sense of its features.