Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone could be closer to launch than many expected. According to researcher @M1Astra, hidden references discovered in the iOS 27 developer beta suggest Apple is actively preparing software support for a foldable device, potentially pointing to a future hardware announcement.
The code reportedly includes terms such as “foldState,” “mechanicalAngleDegrees,” “angleDegrees,” and “MGGetLogicalDeviceDisplayCount.” These references indicate that iOS can detect whether a device is folded, how far it has been opened, and how many displays are currently in use.
While Apple has not officially announced a foldable iPhone, the findings suggest that a future foldable device could run iOS 27, which was unveiled during WWDC 2026.
Apple is entering a market that competitors have been developing for years. Companies such as Samsung and Huawei have offered foldable smartphones for more than five years, meaning expectations for Apple’s first foldable device will be high.
One of the biggest challenges in the category remains thickness. While larger displays are appealing, consumers also want devices that remain comfortable to carry in a pocket. Foldable phones often struggle to balance those two priorities.
Apple has already demonstrated progress in making its devices thinner. Last year, the company introduced the iPhone Air, measuring just 5.6 millimetres thick. In theory, combining two displays of similar thickness in a foldable design would result in a device around 11.2 millimetres thick when folded.
That would make Apple’s foldable thinner than most existing Samsung foldables, except for the company’s latest Galaxy Z Fold7.
Although Apple has yet to confirm its plans, newly discovered iOS 27 references are fueling speculation that the company’s first foldable iPhone could arrive much sooner than previously expected.
