Apple’s first foldable iPhone could do considerably more with its larger display than simply stretch existing iPhone apps across a bigger screen, with the company reportedly preparing iPad-style multitasking features for the device.
The foldable, which Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports will be called the iPhone Duo, is expected to open into a tablet-like display measuring roughly 7.8 inches. Apple is said to have designed software specifically to take advantage of that extra space, including the ability to work with apps side by side.
That could make the iPhone Duo fundamentally different from Apple’s existing iPhones. Rather than treating the internal display as little more than an enlarged phone screen, the company appears ready to borrow some ideas from iPadOS and give users a more flexible way of working when the handset is unfolded.
The device is also reportedly compatible with Apple Pencil, another feature that would push the foldable closer to Apple’s iPad lineup. Pencil support could make the larger internal display useful for handwriting, drawing, annotating documents and other tasks that have traditionally required an iPad.
When folded, the iPhone Duo is expected to offer a smaller external display for conventional iPhone use. Opening the handset would then expose the much larger internal panel and its additional multitasking capabilities.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone Duo at its ‘Surprise and shine’ event later today. Reports suggest pricing will begin at $2,000 for 256GB of storage, with shipments beginning in October.