Apple’s iOS 27 is filled with hints about its upcoming foldable iPhone

APPLE’S iOS 27 and related software updates offer the clearest public signs yet of the company’s upcoming foldable iPhone, revealing references to folding hardware and new features designed for larger, more flexible displays.

The device, meant to bring a fresh form factor to the nearly 20-year-old iPhone lineup, is slated to debut in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro family, Bloomberg News has reported. It will start at around US$2,000 and compete with foldable phones from Samsung Electronics and other manufacturers.

Now, a series of software clues and newly announced features suggest Apple is ramping up work on the product as it nears its introduction.

Files hidden inside the first developer beta of iOS 27, discovered by software researcher M1Astra and shared with Bloomberg News, include code strings related to determining whether a device is folded or unfolded.

One mechanism is referred to internally as “foldState”. There are also entries labeled “mechanicalAngleDegrees” and “angleDegrees,” suggesting the software can determine how widely a device is opened around its hinge.

The operating system contains indicators tied to an updated Apple service utility used to repair iPhone displays. Within iOS 27, the tool includes mentions of a secondary display, a second cover glass and two additional light sensors.

The public-facing version of iOS 27 includes several features that appear well suited to a foldable device.

Some widgets, for example, are now available in a full-page format on the iPhone, allowing apps such as Music, News and Weather to occupy an entire home screen. The design would be particularly useful on a foldable iPhone, where a larger display can accommodate side-by-side panels.

In macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple has updated its iPhone Mirroring feature so a connected phone can be resized to iPad-sized layouts. Bloomberg News previously reported that support for iPad-like dimensions would be an important part of the foldable iPhone experience.

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During a developer presentation known as the Platforms State of the Union, Apple also highlighted a concept it calls app adaptability.

The goal is to help developers design software that works across a broader range of screen sizes and aspect ratios.

“Now, instead of designing for specific devices and orientations, you’re designing for a dynamic range of sizes and aspect ratios,” the company said during the session.

The clues are appearing in Apple’s latest operating systems because the software is already being prepared for future hardware products. Similar indicators point to upcoming camera-equipped wearables such as AirPods and smart glasses glasses.

The new Vision Pro operating system, for instance, includes the ability to recognise and analyse real-world objects in a user’s surroundings — a capability that aligns with Apple’s work in the wearables category. BLOOMBERG