Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for a foldable iPhone in iOS 27: New references to foldable hardware have surfaced in the code, and at the developer conference, the company conspicuously emphasized the importance of flexible app layouts. Both of these points make particular sense if a future iPhone can be unfolded to reveal a large internal display.
Although Apple didn't showcase a foldable iPhone at WWDC on June 8, 2026, several signals from iOS 27 indicate that preparations are well underway. These include new references in the system frameworks and a notable focus on adaptive app interfaces during the Platforms State of the Union. Both fit into the overall picture already known about the iPhone Ultra, which is expected to be Apple's first foldable device. Even if Apple hasn't officially made the connection, the direction is hard to miss.
Apple's call for flexible app layouts
During its Platforms State of the Union, Apple urged developers to move away from apps designed for specific devices and fixed orientations, and instead aim for a "dynamic range of sizes and aspect ratios." This wording clearly extends beyond the aforementioned context of iPhone and iPad mirroring.
Specifically, Apple introduced support for scalable iOS apps in iPhone mirroring and on the iPad. Developers rebuilding their apps against the latest SDK will be automatically enabled for scalability; SwiftUI apps that already utilize the Scene lifecycle and standard framework support for basic scalability are, according to Apple, already well on their way to full scalability. Additionally, Apple announced a new scalable iOS simulator and previews in Xcode that allow users to test layouts across different screen sizes and aspect ratios. The package even includes a capability for coding agents designed to detect and resolve common scaling issues.
Essentially, this requirement means treating every iOS app as if it needs to be able to rearrange itself across a wide variety of form factors. This would make significantly more sense if a future iPhone could unfold to reveal a noticeably larger internal display. Accordingly, the iPhone Ultra is expected to support side-by-side multitasking and iPad-like app layouts – precisely the scenarios Apple is now preparing its developers for.
Notes in the code: "foldState" and "angleDegrees"
This suspicion is reinforced by concrete findings within the system. X user @samhenrigold discovered two strings in the iOS 27 frameworks that directly reference foldable hardware: "foldState" and "angleDegrees". A third finding, a new key that returns the total number of built-in displays in a device, further suggests that Apple is preparing the software foundation for a device with more than one integrated screen. These references are not only present in the developer frameworks but also in the code of the iOS 27 beta itself; 9to5Mac independently confirmed their existence and notes that they were not present in iOS 26.
Individually, such references could be explained, but taken together they create a coherent picture: terms like the folding state or the opening angle only make sense for a device whose display can be physically folded.
What the foldable iPhone is supposed to offer
The foldable iPhone, widely expected to be called the iPhone Ultra, is rumored to be unveiled in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Reports indicate that Apple is opting for a book-like design with an approximately 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display. Other rumored specifications include Touch ID instead of Face ID, a titanium frame with a liquid metal hinge, a dual rear camera, the A20 chip, and the C2 modem. The starting price is expected to be over $2,000, which would make it the most expensive iPhone ever. The unusual form factor was recently revealed in a dummy unit of the iPhone Ultra.
Why the layout offensive fits the foldable iPhone
None of these points, taken individually, would be proof – neither the general call for flexible layouts nor individual code strings. Taken together, however, they paint a picture of a corporation deliberately preparing its software for a new form factor long before the hardware is unveiled. If Apple sticks to its schedule, developers would have until September to adapt their apps to the changing aspect ratio – a lead time that would hardly be necessary without a concrete plan for a foldable device. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but the evidence is increasingly fitting together seamlessly. (Image: FrontPageTech x Asherdipps)
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