Apple’s long-rumored iPhone Fold could finally bring a feature Android phones have had for years: split-screen multitasking. A recent report suggested that Apple may opt for a more iPad-like software experience for its first foldable, offering new app layouts optimized for its large inner screen and a dedicated sidebar for core iPhone apps.
How will split-screen multitasking work on the iPhone Fold?
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has now claimed that Apple may also introduce split-screen multitasking with the iPhone Fold, allowing users to run two apps side-by-side on the inner screen. The foldable iPhone is said to feature a folding display roughly the size of the iPad mini’s screen. That larger display would make it easier to run two apps simultaneously, enabling faster multitasking.
Although the device will run iOS rather than iPadOS, Apple is reportedly designing the interface to behave more like the iPad when unfolded. Apps may expand into wider layouts to take advantage of the additional screen space, offering a tablet-like experience in a pocketable form factor.
From a design perspective, Apple is said to be taking a different approach from many existing foldable phones. The inner screen is rumored to have a wider aspect ratio, which is better suited for side-by-side apps and media consumption. When closed, the outer display is expected to function like a standard iPhone screen.
The iPhone Fold could borrow another feature from Android foldables
Leaks also suggest that the foldable iPhone could include a hole-punch cutout for the front camera and skip Face ID in favor of a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button. Reports indicate that the device could launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models later this year. More details about the first foldable iPhone are expected to surface in the months leading up to the launch.