Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be on the Horizon

The highly anticipated foldable iPhone from Apple may launch this fall, as indicated by files unearthed by researcher @M1Astra in the iOS 27 developer beta. This could mean that we will finally see Apple’s innovative take on foldable technology when the company reveals its latest devices in September.

While Apple hasn’t introduced any foldable phones yet, the iOS 27 code contains terms such as “foldState,” “mechanicalAngleDegrees,” “angleDegrees,” and “MGGetLogicalDeviceDisplayCount.” These elements imply that the software could detect whether the phone is open, the degree of its opening, and how many displays are being used. This suggests that a potential foldable device would run on iOS 27, which was showcased during Monday’s WWDC keynote.

Even though Samsung and Huawei have been rolling out foldable phones for over five years (the latter facing restrictions in the U.S.), Apple’s first foray is bound to generate significant expectations. For consumers, the thickness of foldable devices is vital—the allure of an extra screen might not outweigh the ease of carrying a phone in a jeans pocket (especially for women, whose clothing often lacks sufficient storage).

Nevertheless, Apple has made considerable strides in reducing iPhone sizes. Last year, the company unveiled the iPhone Air, which is a mere 5.6 millimeters thick (approximately the thickness of four stacked dimes). In its foldable form, two iPhone Air screens would total about 11.2 millimeters, making it thinner than any Samsung foldable except for its most recent dual-screen model, the Galaxy Z Fold7.