New form factor requires system-side precautions
A new report from China now speaks of a system-wide adjustment that will make iPhone apps fit better on large landscape format surfaces. The leaker Fixed Focus Digital writes on Weibo that Apple is working on a feature for split app and landscape format display for iOS 27. On a foldable iPhone, it’s not enough to simply make normal iPhone apps larger; after all, as mentioned, many apps are built for tall, narrow screens. On an almost square or significantly wider indoor display, they would either leave a lot of unused space, appear unsightly, or be provided with bars. Apple is therefore working on a system-wide solution to fundamentally address the problem. Many modern iOS apps use adaptive layouts anyway, elements can arrange themselves differently if there is more width.
Gurman: “Side by side” representation is also conceivable
Apple has been telling developers not to rely on fixed form factors for some time now. The split-screen apps mentioned will probably not only have variable widths, but also additional iPad-like two-column layouts. A few weeks ago, Mark Gurman also spoke of “side by side” display, in which two apps actually run at the same time. Old iPhone apps could simply run in one half, while customized programs could also use the entire screen and then present themselves with the appropriate layout.
Probably no information in the first iOS 27 betas
However, it cannot be assumed that more detailed information about the plans will be available at the WWDC keynote next Monday – because the iPhone Ultra and the new interfaces are not expected to be presented. iOS 27 certainly already contains preparations in early betas, but the actual presentation of the new system functions is unlikely to take place until the iPhone launch in the fall.