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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple is rumored to launch a foldable iPhone in 2026.
- The foldable will want to have the ability to multitask effectively.
- iOS will want a big overhaul to help it.
The long-awaited (however nonetheless rumored) iPhone Fold can have an all-new design for Apple’s “most vital overhaul” within the historical past of iPhones, based on a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Doubtlessly coming in 2026, it debuts at a time when rival telephone makers have discovered a strategy to decrease the crease, add versatile cameras and make their foldables as sturdy as slab telephones. The all-new iPhone type issue will want greater than a novelty issue to be truly helpful.
Additionally: Apple reportedly engaged on ‘Extremely’ lineup of gadgets in 2026 – together with this foldable iPhone
Apple’s foldable iPhone is rumored to be a wide-screen system, just like the Oppo Discover N2 and the unique Google Pixel Fold. The broader facet ratio will assist it decrease letterboxing (thick black borders on prime and backside) when watching movies. Nonetheless, the present iOS system is restricted for big-screen telephones, together with the iPhone 17 Professional Max.
Samsung’s Fold 7 on prime of iPhone 16 Professional Max and Galaxy S24 Extremely.
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
The Apple iPhone Fold will want true multitasking capabilities (one thing that does not exist on present iPhones) to make the most of its foldable design. Samsung, Oppo, Vivo and others have already achieved it, and if there ever had been a time for Apple so as to add split-screen and multiwindow options on iOS — it will be now.
The closest you may get to that is with the picture-in-picture mode on iOS 26. Nonetheless, it is not the identical as, say, operating two apps side-by-side on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or three apps on the Oppo Discover N6.
I’ve lengthy argued that Apple is not using the 6.9-inch display screen area on its greatest iPhones — the iPhone Fold might lastly change that. But it surely has its work reduce out for it.
iOS will want an overhaul
iPadOS 26 runs a number of home windows on prime of one another, however requires extra sharpening to be intuitive.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
In response to one other report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s foldable iPhone will function an “iPad-like interface when opened.” This might make multitasking simpler by supporting two apps side-by-side. For context, no iPhone so far has supported operating a number of apps on the display screen concurrently. As per the report, many apps can have sidebars on the left of the display screen.
If the iPhone Fold runs an iPad-like iOS expertise, it may additionally be susceptible to iPad-like annoyances. Apple must fine-tune gestures to make them intuitive on its foldable iPhone; in its present state, multitasking on iPadOS 26 is not probably the most polished.
Additionally: iPad Air (M4, 2026) evaluation: I benchmarked Apple’s pill with the Professional mannequin, and it’s totally shut
For instance, after I swipe all the way down to entry the Management Heart on my iPad Air, the system registers it as a swipe to resize the app window. Equally, I wrestle so as to add pop-up home windows for fast actions. This is not an issue after I’m multitasking on current-gen Android foldable telephones.
The iPhone Fold additionally wants higher window administration and a Samsung-like fast motion sidebar that enables drag and drop for pop-up home windows. I do not use it typically, nevertheless it is useful after I’m doing my taxes or invoices and want the Calculator to be on prime of my present display screen.
Additionally: Desire a foldable iPhone? Apple thinks you and tens of millions of others will subsequent 12 months
Apple already has Stage Supervisor, which was not too long ago copied by Vivo for its Atomic Workbench function on the X Fold 5. With this function, for instance, it is nice to have reference articles one faucet away whereas working in a Doc file. An analogous execution would make the iPhone Fold far more helpful for productivity-focused makes use of.
Productiveness-focused options run higher on the taller foldables, just like the Z Fold 7 and Honor Magic V5. Nonetheless, when unfolded, these telephones aren’t good for video consumption. The iPhone Fold has a possibility to bridge the hole between the 2 use instances. You may, theoretically, watch movies with minimal letterboxing in panorama mode after which flip it to vertical orientation for productivity-focused use.
