Apple’s first foldable iPhone is coming this fall, and Mark Gurman at Bloomberg there is new information about how the interface will work. In particular, it sounds like the iPhone Fold (or whatever Apple Shouts new phone) will let you run two apps side by side.
The first iPhone with side-by-side apps
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone Fold alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September. Like the iPhone 18 Pro, it will run iOS 27, which Apple will preview in June at WWDC. However, don’t wait specific iPhone Fold software features will be revealed before the hardware.
Meanwhile, we have Mark Gurman reporting to give us a preview of what to expect. First, those side-by-side apps will be joined by iPad-like layouts, something only partially offered in landscape orientation on existing iPhones.
The product — Apple’s long-awaited entry into the category — will feature a foldable internal display roughly the size of an iPad mini, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It will also have an external display the size of the screen on a small iPhone.
Gurman says there are two benefits to Apple’s foldable design, which is expected to have a wider aspect ratio compared to existing foldable smartphones. The first is to watch the video. The second is adapting existing iPhone apps for the new device.
On the app development front, Gurman provides more details:
Apple is developing new iOS app layouts and revamping its core iPhone apps to add sidebars along the left edge of the screen, similar to many of its iPad apps. Developers will also be able to adapt their iPhone software for the new interface, which will use proportions similar to an iPad in landscape mode.
However, the report says that the iPhone Fold will not support running iPad apps. A true windowing system like the similarly sized iPad mini won’t be offered.
iPhone Fold design details
Earlier this week, 3D design files surfaced online that will likely give us away a preview of the hardware.
The design includes a camera array similar to the iPhone Air, except it has two cameras instead of just one. The phone is rounded on two corners and square on the other two where the hinge would be placed.
Additionally, the design files appear to show the iPhone Fold’s layout when it’s unfolded. A dot in the upper left corner represents the front camera. Another image shows the exterior of the phone both open and closed with the external display in view.
Gurman touches on some of these details in Bloomberg’s latest report on the rumored iPhone Fold. You can read the full report here.
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