Foldable iPhone launch nears? iOS 27 beta reveals new clues
References found in the iOS 27 developer beta suggest Apple may be preparing software support for a foldable iPhone, fueling launch speculation.
Published By: Shubham Arora | Published: Jun 10, 2026, 10:41 PM (IST)
Apple may not have officially announced its foldable iPhone yet, but the latest version of iOS appears to be dropping some strong hints. During WWDC 2026, Apple unveiled iOS 27 and a host of new software features, but hidden references inside the developer beta have now drawn attention for a different reason.
According to a Bloomberg report, software researcher M1Astra spotted several references inside the first developer beta of iOS 27 that appear to point towards a foldable iPhone. The findings have added weight to reports suggesting Apple could introduce its first foldable smartphone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup later this year.
iOS 27 contains references to folding hardware
The reported code strings found inside iOS 27 include references such as "foldState", "mechanicalAngleDegrees", and "angleDegrees". These appear to indicate that the software can detect whether a device is folded or unfolded and even determine the angle at which it is being used.
The beta software also reportedly includes references related to display repair tools. The report also mentions references to a secondary display, an additional layer of cover glass, and extra light sensors. While Apple has not confirmed anything officially, these are the kind of components typically associated with foldable devices.
Another detail that caught attention was support for dual built-in displays. That is notable because most foldable smartphones currently on the market use a combination of an outer display and a larger inner screen.
New iOS 27 features could fit a foldable iPhone
Some of the features Apple announced with iOS 27 also seem like they could work well on a larger foldable screen. The company is introducing bigger widget layouts that can take up an entire screen, allowing apps like Music, News, and Weather to show much more information at a glance.
On a standard iPhone display, these changes are useful. On a larger foldable screen, they could make even more sense.
Apple has also updated its iPhone Mirroring feature in macOS 27. Users can now resize a mirrored iPhone window into a layout that resembles the dimensions of an iPad. While Apple presented this as a productivity feature, it could also be useful for a foldable iPhone with a wider inner display.
Apple preparing developers for changing screen sizes
Apple also spent time talking about app adaptability during its WWDC 2026 developer sessions. The company encouraged developers to build apps that can adjust smoothly to different screen sizes and aspect ratios instead of being designed around a single display format.
That stands out because a foldable phone effectively changes shape depending on whether it is open or closed, making flexible app layouts far more important.
Apple has not announced a foldable iPhone yet, but the references found in iOS 27, combined with some of the new software features, suggest the company could be laying the groundwork for such a device. Current reports indicate that Apple may unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, with Bloomberg reporting a possible starting price of around $2,000.
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