Apple Prepares Developers for Foldable iPhone

Adrian Mühlroth

June 9, 2026, 1:18 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

This fall marks the anticipated launch of the first foldable iPhone, for which Apple has already produced initial prototypes for testing purposes. But it’s not just the company preparing for the device–numerous software developers offering apps for iPhones are also expected to contribute. Additionally, references to the foldable, referred to as the iPhone Ultra, can be found in the iOS 27 code.

Apps Should Adapt Flexibly

Following the keynote at the start of WWDC 2026, the Apple Developer account on YouTube released a “Platforms State of the Union.” In the overview of new developments in software platforms, Apple addresses things developers will need to consider in the future.

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In the section on iPhone synchronization with MacBook and iPad, Cindy Barrett, Senior Engineering Manager for System Experience, announces a relatively significant change. Apps should no longer be developed for fixed device classes and rigid orientations: “Instead of designing for specific devices and orientations, you design for a dynamic range of sizes and aspect ratios.”

The iPhone simulator in the programming tool Xcode is intended to help developers test layouts on various display sizes and aspect ratios. Additionally, Apple is providing a feature for coding agents to identify and assist in resolving typical resizing issues.

According to “MacRumors,” the requirement for app content to adapt across different form factors suggests a foldable iPhone. Here, apps must be able to seamlessly switch between the smaller outer and larger inner displays.

Hints in the iOS 27 Code

Apple gets even more specific in the iOS 27 frameworks. Developer @samhenrigold found the entries “foldState” and “angleDegrees” and published them in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Both terms directly point to foldable hardware.

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Additionally, another code entry indicates how many displays are built into a device. Since no iPhone or iPad has more than one screen so far, this is a fairly certain indication of the iPhone Ultra.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.