Although Apple highlighted an AI-enhanced Siri at this year’s developer conference, the iOS 27 developer beta contains code suggesting the company is preparing a foldable iPhone. Examination of the beta reveals software routines that detect whether a device is open or closed and that track the hinge angle — meaning the system can tell how far the device is opened.
Repair and support references inside Apple’s tools further reinforce the possibility of a foldable: mentions of a secondary display, a second layer of protective glass, and additional light sensors are present. Those hardware components would be unnecessary in a conventional iPhone but are logical for a book-style folding device.
Timing and potential price
Reports indicate Apple could unveil its first foldable alongside the iPhone 18 family in September 2026. Bloomberg writes the new model’s starting price could be around $2,000 (roughly 700,000 forints), which would make it among the most expensive iPhones Apple has offered.
Software changes aimed at larger, multi-panel displays
iOS 27 includes software updates that appear designed for larger, adaptable screens. Several apps can appear as full-screen widgets; on a standard iPhone this is a modest change, but on a large foldable display it enables tablet-like, multi-panel workflows. Examples cited include the Music, Weather and News apps, which could occupy the full screen and present multiple panels simultaneously.
macOS 27 also signals a similar direction: iPhone mirroring can now be resized to tablet-like dimensions, aligning with earlier reports that a folded-out Apple device would offer a smaller iPad-like experience.
Developers and adaptive app design
In developer sessions Apple stressed “adaptive” app design — building apps for varying sizes and aspect ratios rather than targeting specific devices. That guidance strongly suggests the company is preparing for a new hardware category.
AI integration and how it ties to foldables
At the same time Apple is embedding AI across its platforms. The new Siri is described as capable of ongoing dialogue, interpreting on-screen content and linking information across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. AI features are being added to the camera, messaging, browser, email and other system areas.
Those two trajectories could converge: a foldable iPhone’s larger workspace could let AI orchestrate multiple apps and data sources more effectively, yielding a different class of device designed around AI-driven multitasking.
Compatibility concerns and impact on device upgrades
Apple says iOS 27 will support devices back to the iPhone 11, but prior experience shows that not all AI-powered features necessarily run on older hardware. Apple Intelligence’s first generation already included services exclusive to newer models.
If Apple rolls out foldable hardware at the same time as a broad AI-driven platform transition, device upgrade cycles might accelerate in coming years. Current software evidence and repair references suggest Apple is preparing more than a single new phone: it appears to be building a new platform with a foldable iPhone as a central component.
