Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive this fall, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has new information about how the interface will work. It’s worth noting that the iPhone Fold (or whatever Apple calls the new phone) appears to be able to run two apps in parallel.
The first iPhone with parallel apps
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone Fold along with the iPhone 18 Pro in September. Like the iPhone 18 Pro, it will run iOS 27, which Apple plans to preview at WWDC in June. But don’t expect iPhone Fold-specific software features to be revealed before the hardware.
In the meantime, check out Mark Gurman’s report to give you a preview of what’s to come. First, these side-by-side apps join the iPad-like layout, which is only partially offered in landscape orientation on the existing iPhone.
The device is Apple’s long-awaited entry into the space, with a foldable internal display about the same size as the iPad mini, according to people familiar with the matter. It will also include an external screen that is roughly the same size as a small iPhone display.
Garman said there are two advantages to Apple’s foldable design, which is expected to have a wider aspect ratio compared to existing foldable smartphones. First, watch the video. The second is adapting existing iPhone apps to new devices.
Gurman goes into more detail on the app development side.
Apple is developing new iOS app layouts and, like many iPad apps, improving core iPhone programs to add a sidebar to the left edge of the screen. Developers can also adapt iPhone software to the new interface, which uses proportions similar to the iPad in landscape mode.
However, the report states that the iPhone Fold will not support running iPad apps. It doesn’t offer a true windowing system like the similarly sized iPad mini.
iPhone Fold design details
Earlier this week, 3D design files appeared online that appear to provide a preview of the hardware.
This design includes a camera plateau similar to the iPhone Air, except it has two cameras instead of one. Two corners of the phone are rounded and the other two corners where the hinge is located are square.
Additionally, the design file appears to show the layout of the iPhone Fold in its open state. The dot in the top left corner represents the front camera. Another image shows the outside of the phone both open and closed with the outer display visible.
Garman touched on some of these details in Bloomberg’s latest report on the rumored iPhone Fold. You can read the full report here.
