Hidden iOS 27 Feature Teases Apple’s Foldable ‘iPhone Ultra’

Early testers digging into the first developer beta of iOS 27 have stumbled upon a major layout restructuring that tells a far more interesting story about the future of Apple hardware.

As highlighted by MacRumors, the widespread adoption of flexible, sidebar-driven layouts in iOS 27 strongly signals that Apple is preparing its software ecosystem for a major hardware shift i.e. the long-rumored foldable iPhone, often referred to in supply chain circles as the “iPhone Ultra.”

For years, turning an iPhone horizontally meant staring at a static interface or dealing with clunky, half-baked layouts. With the release of iOS 27 this autumn, Apple is finally fixing this inconsistency by adding full landscape support to a long list of core applications. The updated roster includes Apple Music, Podcasts, Fitness, Health, Reminders, Home, Shortcuts, Apple Watch, Find My, Weather, Voice Memos, and the Apple TV Remote.

A foldable device, which rumors suggest could feature a massive 7.8-inch internal display when unfolded, requires software that can seamlessly transition between portrait, landscape, and square aspect ratios without breaking functionality. By forcing its own application catalog to adopt adaptive layouts, Apple is establishing a clear reference design for third-party developers to follow.

Interestingly, landscape functionality was once a staple of the iPhone ecosystem. Models like the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 8 Plus allowed the entire Home Screen grid to rotate horizontally, mimicking the iPad experience. This layout philosophy came to an abrupt halt with the launch of the iPhone X.

Right now, these interface changes are locked behind the first iOS 27 developer beta. A public beta is scheduled to open up to adventurous testers in July, with the final public software deployment expected to roll out globally this September.