As Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference comes to an end, the code clues hidden in the first beta version of iOS 27 have attracted widespread attention. Software researchers have discovered multiple codes in the system that are directly related to folding hardware, indicating that the software foundation for Apple's first foldable iPhone is quietly in place.
Code researchers found multiple key strings inside iOS 27, including "foldState" used to identify the folded or unfolded state of the device, and two entries "" and "angleDegrees" that detect the hinge expansion angle. These codes did not appear in iOS 26 and are regarded as the most direct evidence that Apple is about to launch a folding device.
The new user-facing features of iOS 27 also reveal the design intention of the folding screen. The new full-page widget format in the system supports music, news and other applications to occupy the entire home screen. This design will be particularly practical on folding iPhones with larger internal screens. In addition, macOS 27’s update to the iPhone mirroring feature allows a connected iPhone to be adjusted to an iPad size layout, which is consistent with rumors that folding screen devices are close to the size of iPad mini when unfolded.
Apple also made it clear in its speech to developers that the future design target for developers "is no longer a specific device and screen orientation, but a dynamically changing range of sizes and aspect ratios." This expression directly echoes the characteristics of folding screens that need to present different interfaces in two states.
According to Bloomberg, Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled on the same stage as the iPhone 18 Pro series in September this year, with a starting price of about US$2,000. The device has an outer screen of about 5.5 inches when folded and an inner screen of 7.8 inches when unfolded. It will be designed with a titanium frame and liquid metal hinge, equipped with an A20 Pro chip and the largest iPhone battery in history with over 5,000 mAh.