JAKARTA - Apple is reportedly preparing a new feature on its first folding iPhone that allows users to run two apps side by side on one screen. This multitasking capability is said to be one of the main differentiators of the device, which is currently known as the iPhone Fold.
This information was revealed by technology journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, who said the device was likely to be introduced by Apple in conjunction with the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026.
According to the report, the iPhone Fold will run iOS 27, which Apple first introduced at its annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference or WWDC in June. However, the software features specific to the iPhone Fold are not expected to be fully revealed before the hardware is officially introduced.
One of the capabilities that Apple has prepared is to run two applications side by side, a multitasking concept that has been more synonymous with tablets. This feature will be combined with an interface layout that resembles the iPad experience when in landscape position.
The report says the inside screen of the iPhone Fold will have a size close to a small tablet like the iPad mini when the device is opened. Meanwhile, the outside screen of the device is estimated to have a size close to the small-sized iPhone screen so that it is still comfortable to use when the device is closed.
The design has two main advantages. First, the video viewing experience will feel wider than a conventional iPhone. Second, the wider screen format makes it easier for developers to adjust iPhone apps to take advantage of the additional screen space on the folding device.
Apple is also reportedly developing a new app layout in iOS for these devices. A number of iPhone's built-in apps will get a sidebar on the left side of the screen, a design approach that has long been used in iPad apps.
In addition, third-party developers will also be able to adjust their iPhone apps to be compatible with the new screen ratio, which is said to have a similar proportion to the iPad in landscape mode.
However, the report says the iPhone Fold is likely not to support iPad apps directly. That is, the full window system like on the iPad will not be available on this device.
In terms of hardware design, the previously leaked three-dimensional design file shows that the iPhone Fold has a rear camera module that resembles the design on the iPhone Air, but with two cameras instead of one.
The device is also said to have a unique angular shape: two sides are rounded like the iPhone in general, while the other two sides are more firm and flat because they are the location of the folding hinge.
The circulating design render also shows the front camera position in the upper left corner of the inner screen when the device is open. Several other images show the appearance of the device both open and closed with the outer screen active.
If the report is accurate, the iPhone Fold will be Apple's big move to enter the folding phone market, which has been dominated by Android manufacturers for the past few years.
For Apple, the main challenge is not only creating a hardware that can be folded smoothly, but also ensuring that the software experience feels completely natural.
In the world of technology, a folding phone is not just a screen that can be bent - it is more difficult to make the operating system and applications able to adapt to two different device forms in one gadget.
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