iOS 27 to Prioritize New Features for Apple's Foldable iPhone

[robertosh]

Not interested in the device, but from the developers point of view I'm curious about how this would be implemented software-wise:

- Could be that native apps will be needed, meaning that developers will need to adapt their apps to react on folding state changes -> this is bad for developers
- Or, they could just simply make the device to appear as an iPad while unfolded. That would help developers -> no changes needed for the apps that have both iPhone/iPad variants (Universal)
- However, non native apps, with no iPad version they will look awful while unfolded, I would expect something similar to an iPhone app running in compatibility mode on iPad. And compatibility mode in iPad uses iPhone with a 4.7" screen, which would make the thing weird to see the app smaller while unfolded than the folded screen.
- The aspect ratio while unfolded, if the rumors are true, it will be more square-shaped which is new for iOS so even apps made for iPad could render unpredictably.

I think Apple need to be careful to ask developers for changes, because if device is not meant to be a mainstream product, more than one will be reluctant to expend time on adapting apps.

 

[azentropy]

$2,000 is a lot for a computer, camera, video recorder, GPS navigation device, phone, hand-held gaming device, MP3/Video player, calculator, voice recorder, web cam, alarm clock, and e-reader all in one device that you can put in your pocket, that you use daily? I respectfully disagree.

For those who put an extreme value on the "all in one device that you can put in your pocket" it will be worth it. But for the same price you will probably be able to get a current iPhone Pro and a current iPad Pro which are significantly better at everything else you list.

 

[IIGS User]

If it's awesome I'll probably bite. It'll have to be some mega radical departure from the norm that is amazing to use in the same way the original iPhone was when it came out. So long as the price isn't insanity like the Vision Pro, the cost a few $100 either way isn't a concern to me.

That being said. It makes me sad to point out that Apple hasn't brought anything truly revolutionary to the marketplace at a reasonable cost for a while now. The VP is an awesome product, but it's really a public beta that most of the public can't afford. Apple does this a lot. They're ahead of the curve, but the product as a whole isn't ready for prime time at the price point offered. It's almost like funding pure research that doesn't yield tangible results right away. Think the Newton. The concept was there, the tech just wasn't there yet and a lot of the innovations there ended up leading to the iPhone and the iPad. But it took 10 years to get there.

Regardless. I won't buy the first generation of this. Just like the first year of a new car design. It's always buggy. Apple is notorious for this. I will wait until the second or 3rd generation of the product before I buy it. The screen will be much better, the device will be more solid, and the software more refined.

First adopters are usually last round beta testers anyway. I used to like being in the group, but now I want stuff that works.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

The device will reportedly address common foldable phone issues, with a less visible display crease and an improved hinge mechanism that has a titanium and stainless steel construction to increase durability.

So so many thinks to catch up on and all they are concerned about is the crease? The crease is pretty much absent on the Fold 7 and the Oppo 5. Why Mark Gurman keeps on harping about the crease non-stop as if that is the only thing that Apple needs to consider when releasing a folding phone for an obscene price. So many generations of folding phones have been released that there is absolutely no reason that Apple should be releasing a "Gen 1" product that does not even come close to matching the others in physical appearance.
Please consider:
1. The thinnest foldable phone now is 8.9mm folded and 4.2mm unfolded.
2. The outer screen is now 6 inches full screen and is fully usable without unfolding the phone.
3. I believe the inner screen is now 8 inches
4. Quality cameras at the back of the phone. (note plural)

except they have caught up to all of those, and in some cases surpassed them, at least according to the rumors.
people keep harping on about how the outside screen is only 5.5 inches, while ignoring the fact that that is always measured diagonally and says absolutely nothing about the aspect ratio.
according to the leaked screen resolutions, the outside screen will actually be very short and wide, with around a 3X2 aspect ratio. So in terms of actual screen area, it will be pretty similar to a current Pro Max.
The reason they are doing this is so the internal screen is a natural full 4X3 aspect ratio, and not the weird aspect ratio of almost all current folding phones on the market.
The “5.5 inch” measurement is almost completely irrelevant.
also, are we really getting all up in arms about the difference between 4.5 mm and 4.2 mm? Really?

 

[ignatius345]

Right, but I'm not talking about renderings. I'm talking about real world foldable devices.

Obviously. I'm talking about how every time one of these stories comes up on this site there's a rendering of a chonky awkward device.

 

[YankeeSR23]

Call me an Apple sheep all you want, call the product stupid all you want, I WILL buy this

I’m 99.9% sure I’ll get this on day one. Only reason I’m not 100% certain is that I want to see Apple’s presentation and see the specs about it. I want make a mockup out of Lego pieces and see how it’ll feel in my hands.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Obviously. I'm talking about how every time one of these stories comes up on this site there's a rendering of a chonky awkward device.

Ahhhhh, gotcha. Yeah, I hear you there.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I wonder if the foldable iPhone will run a specially modified version of iPadOS 27 instead.

I don’t understand why people keep acting like there’s some big distinction? There isn’t.
iPadOS and iOS are identical down to the version number. every build of iOS and iPadOS has the same exact identical version and build number.
While iPadOS has benefits over iOS of course, they are not different operating systems.
The name “iPadOS” is nothing except for marketing, which is why, even though the iPad had exclusive features like slide over, until 2019 it ran “iOS”. nothing changed fundamentally in 2019 other than they just came up with a new marketing name to give it more separation. But fundamentally they are the exact same operating system.

 

[groove-agent]

If you could use it like an iPad and with an optional pencil. I'm in. I'm tired of buying/ swapping between a MacBook Pro/ iPad/ iPhone. If I can get that down to two devices the iPhone Fold would be well worth the money.

However, notice MR is saying "less crease" instead of creaseless? My requirement would have to be NO CREASE.

I actually prefer Touch ID over Face ID. I can't tell you how many times driving the car I've asked Siri to read me my texts and she insisted I unlock my phone first. At night Face ID will hardly recognize me anyways so I welcome back Touch ID.

 

[kcwookie]

Finally a beta I won't install.

 

[justanotherdave]

The Samsung Galaxy Fold devices represent a small percentage of smartphones they sell. Folding phones aren’t nearly as popular as people claim.

Not sure why people think a folding iPhone is going to sell like crazy when even Samsung is having trouble selling them.

 

[groove-agent]

I don’t understand why people keep acting like there’s some big distinction? There isn’t.
iPadOS and iOS are identical down to the version number. every build of iOS and iPadOS has the same exact identical version and build number.

So you're saying you can dock your phone via USBC and use the phone on a full screen monitor? I think all that code is left out. I think the OSes share core similarities, but are fairly different.

 

[Rradcircless]

So much for Apple Intelligence. Apple is just going to continue to sail off into obscurity with this strategy.

That reminds me. If Apple is seven years behind Samsung, the pioneers of foldable, we may still be years and years away from Apple doing anything tangibly exiting in AI.

 

[groove-agent]

Maybe employ a few more people and develop the best iOS experience across all your devices !!!!!! 🤷‍♂️ can they not afford it ?

I think they need to converge the OSes and just have the UI change depending on the type of screen it's being viewed on much like responsive web design.

 

[Macbookey]

So basically nothing worthwhile for anything that isn’t $2K US. As if the Pro Max variant isn’t big enough to do so much more. In over a decade of iOS updates,  has failed to distinguish the larger screen variant in software. They cant walk and chew gum anymore, so the upsell is weak. Those interested in the foldable will buy it. I just have a hard time believing that the software division has the acumen anymore to apply skills on a per device basis, let alone their platforms as a whole. I just see it as a device that will borrow from iPadOS. Nothing that improves core apps and the overall experience is wasted update IMO, and it looks like if you don’t pay to play with the new and shiny, you won’t have much to write home about. So basically the cost and value equation gets weaker every year. AI and the iPhone 16 series a perfect example.

 

[bmark]

iOS 27 designed exclusively for the iFlop! Apple Intelligence coming never.

 

[The Game 161]

So much for Apple Intelligence. Apple is just going to continue to sail off into obscurity with this strategy.

this report has nothing to do with al so why would it be mentioned? new siri has already said it's supposed to be coming this is a seperate report

 

[groove-agent]

For those who put an extreme value on the "all in one device that you can put in your pocket" it will be worth it. But for the same price you will probably be able to get a current iPhone Pro and a current iPad Pro which are significantly better at everything else you list.

Except for the times when you need to use your iPad (for the pencil) for example, and you left it in your messenger bag on the top floor of your home. Your phone is likely with you at most times.

Even though Apple is very cloud-centric and ecosystem is friendly, there can still be inconveniences working on the same thing across devices.

 

[iMac The Knife]

So you're saying you can dock your phone via USBC and use the phone on a full screen monitor? I think all that code is left out. I think the OSes share core similarities, but are fairly different.

The advantage Apple has, is that they have way more customers that will buy an Apple Fold just because it is a new Apple device.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Foldable iPhone will replace the non-foldable just like how the iPhone completely replaced the iPod and iPod touch, assuming Apple does prioritize the software for the foldable device.

If foldables replace non-foldables, then I will replace my iPhone with a non-iphone.

More realistically, I think think there will always be (as long as iPhone is around) a non-folding option.

 

[tyrnnsrs]

I'd be curious to know what they need to substantially do for iOS27 to support this. I guess mostly just making sure apps can work across the larger screen. But what else would you need to specifically develop that would be exclusive to a dual screen iPhone?

 

[Alexander_im]

I can remember the first time I took a Samsung foldable and couldn’t help but think: “Now this is something cool”. Like many others here the last time Apple phones made me feel that way — this pure joy of seeing something fascinatingly unusual — was when X was released.

That’s not to say that other phones were bad (I had 12 Pro max and 15 PM now), they were just iterative (and yes I’m aware about the “maturity” of today’s technologies, it’s just inevitable we need something exciting every now and again)

 

[ofarlig]

I'd be curious to know what they need to substantially do for iOS27 to support this. I guess mostly just making sure apps can work across the larger screen. But what else would you need to specifically develop that would be exclusive to a dual screen iPhone?

The large screen is basically an iPad Mini so they would want multitasking features to work at least when unfolded. They also need to be able to transition between them fluidly when apps are open and I guess they want functionality for apps to use a special layout when using it half folded and so on.

There’s loads of small things to think about and handle like how home screens relate to the outside display, can it have it’s own layout with widgets and whatnot?

 

[chiltonwebb3]

If it has Pencil support, I'm all in.

If it does not, there's nothing there for me.

 

[Dr Nobody Important]

This is getting rather boring. If it will happen, it will happen. Most people simply would not care for a foldable device as evident that most people do not purchase foldable devices.