iOS 27 Beta Hints at Apple’s Upcoming Foldable iPhone Release

Hidden files discovered in the iOS 27 developer beta indicate that Apple could be preparing to release a foldable iPhone in the fall. Researcher @M1Astra identified code references pointing to foldable device features, suggesting Apple’s foldable phone might debut alongside its new hardware in September.

The iOS 27 code contains terms like “foldState,” “mechanicalAngleDegrees,” “angleDegrees,” and “MGGetLogicalDeviceDisplayCount,” which imply the operating system can detect whether the device is folded, measure the angle at which it is opened, and recognize the number of active displays. These findings suggest that any forthcoming foldable device would operate on iOS 27, revealed during the recent WWDC keynote.

Although foldable smartphones have been available from manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei for over five years, Apple has yet to enter this market. The company’s initial foldable model will face significant expectations from consumers. One key consideration is the device’s thickness, as the convenience of fitting a phone into a pocket often outweighs the appeal of an additional screen, especially for users who wear clothing with limited carrying options.

Apple has made strides in reducing the iPhone’s size, exemplified by last year’s iPhone Air, which measures only 5.6 millimeters in thickness—approximately the height of four stacked dimes. If Apple’s foldable iPhone consists of two iPhone Air-sized screens, the combined thickness when folded would be about 11.2 millimeters, making it thinner than most Samsung foldables except for the latest Galaxy Z Fold7, which features a two-screen design.