– iOS 27 code reveals hinge detection (“foldState”, “mechanicalAngleDegrees”) for a foldable iPhone Ultra.
– References to a second display, second glass cover, and two extra ambient light sensors.
– Wider mirrored display on Mac suggests a foldable, iPad-like two-column interface.
– Full-screen widgets may use only half the folded display on the iPhone Ultra.
– Earlier rumors of a 2025 iPhone Ultra launch gain credibility from these iOS 27 clues.
iOS 27 hints at foldable iPhone Ultra features
Apple anounced iOS 27 on Monday, the next major operating system version for the iPhone, which is expected to be released in the fall. Developers can already install a beta version on compatible smartphones such as an iPhone 17, and have therefore already been able to take a look at the code.
Coding references reveal hinge and dual display support
As Bloomberg and 9to5Mac report, it contains several references to the iPhone Ultra, which is to be announced in September together with the iPhone 18 Pro. The iOS 27 code contains the terms “foldState” and “mechanicalAngleDegrees”, meaning that the iPhone operating system recognizes when a hinge is closed, similar to how macOS already does. According to Bloomberg, a service utility also indicates a second display, a second glass cover and two additional ambient light sensors.
- Terms like “foldState” and “mechanicalAngleDegrees” found in code
- Hinge closure detection similar to macOS
- Second display and two extra ambient light sensors expected
User interface elements hint at larger, foldable screen
There are even references to the iPhone Ultra in the user interface. When an iPhone display is mirrored on a Mac, it can now be drawn wider, making the two-column user interface more reminiscent of an iPad than an iPhone. The new full-screen widgets, which for example display the music or weather app on an entire iPhone home screen, could also be intended for the iPhone Ultra, on which they would only take up half of the folded display. These new clues from iOS 27 lend credibility to earlier rumours that the iPhone Ultra will be launched this year.