Games v1.160
Does Word Search Explorer work on iPhone Duo?
It works, but with black bars. Word Search Explorer 1.160 is built with the iOS 26.2 SDK, so iPhone Duo runs it in a phone-sized window on the inner display.
At a glance
- Inner display (7.6″)
- Black bars
- Outer display (5.4″)
- Works normally
- Built with
- iOS 26.2 SDK
- Version 1.160, read Nov 3, 2026
- iPad version
- Yes
- Layout already handles big screens
- Latest version
- v1.160
- Nov 2, 2026
- Duo in release notes
- Not yet
About Word Search Explorer
Word Search Explorer is made by PlaySimple Games Pte Ltd and first came out on the App Store in February 2023. It's #79 on today's US App Store top charts. It has 862,486 ratings on the US App Store, averaging 4.9 stars. Version 1.160 came out on Nov 2, 2026 and needs iOS 13.0 or later. It's free to download. Among the 238 games we track on the US App Store, 34 already fill the inner display, 9 are partly adapted and 187 still show black bars. By number of ratings, Word Search Explorer is #35 of them.
From its App Store listing:
With Word Search Explorer embark on a wondrous quest of adventure and wisdom, where the fun never stops! This FREE TO PLAY word game makes learning new words so easy and much more fun. Flex your brain, connect the letters and swipe your way through hundreds of word puzzles, while steadily growing your vocabulary and confidence for the challenges ahead! Successfully completing each puzzle will brin…
On the inner display
Apps built with older SDKs are placed in a phone-sized safe area on a black background. Everything works; you just don't get the bigger screen.
In Split View
iPhone Duo is the first iPhone that can show two apps side by side, and every app takes part — including Word Search Explorer. Open it on the inner display, then add a second app next to it. You can save the pair and come back to it later.
Duo-specific features
None confirmed yet. Duo-specific features include side toolbars, layouts that react to the fold, and content on the outer display while the app is open inside.
Evidence & history
App build,
Version 1.160 is built with the iOS 26.2 SDK
Apple runs apps built with the iOS 26 SDK or earlier in a phone-sized window on the inner display.
- : Not confirmed yet → Black bars — built with the iOS 26.2 SDK
Latest release notes
Version 1.160 · Nov 2, 2026
Bug fixes and performance boosts! Enjoy smoother gameplay and faster load times—dive right in!
Questions
Does Word Search Explorer work on iPhone Duo?
It works, but with black bars. Word Search Explorer 1.160 is built with the iOS 26.2 SDK, so iPhone Duo runs it in a phone-sized window on the inner display.
Does Word Search Explorer work on the outer display?
Yes. iPhone Duo's 5.4-inch outer display behaves like a regular iPhone screen, so every iPhone app works there as usual.
Can I use Word Search Explorer in Split View on iPhone Duo?
Yes. On iPhone Duo every app can be placed side by side with another app on the inner display — developers don't need to opt in. How comfortable it feels at half width depends on the app's layout.
Why does Word Search Explorer have black bars on iPhone Duo?
Apps built with the iOS 26 SDK or earlier run in a phone-sized window on the inner display, and iOS 27 builds can still leave some space empty. The bars disappear once the developer rebuilds the app with the iOS 27.1 SDK — you only need to update the app.
When will Word Search Explorer fill iPhone Duo's inner display?
When its developer releases an update built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later. We read the SDK of every new version of Word Search Explorer within about a day of its release and update this page.
What can I do about the black bars until then?
Use Word Search Explorer on the outer display, where it works like on any iPhone, or put it in Split View next to another app on the inner display so less of the screen goes unused.