The first iOS 27 beta contains multiple references to Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone. Hidden within the operating system are strings and other code pointing to features designed specifically for a foldable device.
At this point, it’s no secret that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone. The company itself is now just indirectly confirming it.
Hidden iOS 27 code points to a foldable iPhone
Apple did not talk about the foldable iPhone during the opening keynote of WWDC26. Instead, it focused on the changes in iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27.
Shortly after the WWDC26 opening keynote ended, Apple released the first developer beta of its new operating systems. Hidden within the iOS 27 beta is code containing multiple references to features typically associated with a foldable device.
As shared by software researcher M1Astra with Bloomberg News, some code strings in iOS 27 beta 1 are related to a phone’s folded or unfolded state.
“One mechanism is referred to internally as “foldState”. There are also entries labeled “mechanicalAngleDegrees” and “angleDegrees,” suggesting the software can determine how widely a device is opened around its hinge,” says the report.
Apple’s Service Utility, the internal tool used to calibrate and repair iPhone displays, contains code referencing a secondary display, two ambient light sensors and a second cover glass.
iOS 27 and macOS 27 features also hint at a foldable iPhone
It’s not just hidden code strings that point to a foldable iPhone launching later this year. Apple is introducing several new features in iOS 27 and macOS 27 designed specifically for a foldable device.
This includes an extra-large widget size for the Home Screen and the ability to resize iPhone mirrored apps on Macs running Golden Gate.
Apple is also introducing a new developer feature called App Adaptability, which encourages developers to ensure their apps work seamlessly across different screen sizes and aspect ratios.
Again, this is a change designed specifically for a foldable device.
