A new leak suggests that iOS 27 could, for the first time, display two apps side-by-side. The feature is intended to address a long-standing weakness of the system – and appears to be directly aimed at the large internal display of the anticipated foldable iPhone.
iOS has never been particularly strong in landscape mode or on large displays. While the iPad has handled wide layouts with ease for years, the iPhone system clings to the tall, narrow portrait format. A new clue from China now suggests that Apple could address this shortcoming with iOS 27. Apple is expected to unveil the new system as early as June 8th at WWDC 2026. The feature hasn't been officially confirmed yet, but it would fit into a clear strategic pattern.
What is behind "Parallel View"
According to a post by Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is reportedly working on a feature internally described as "Parallel View." This refers to a technology that automatically adapts smartphone apps at the system level for wide displays, without requiring developers to redesign their applications. The leaker borrows the name from a similarly named feature in Huawei's HarmonyOS – but explicitly only as a point of comparison for the type of solution, not as an indication that Apple is directly adopting its competitor's implementation.
The leaker cites iPadOS as Apple's own model: There, the system has been automatically adjusting to landscape mode for quite some time. iOS, on the other hand, has never had a comparable mechanism. This new feature is intended to fill precisely that gap.
Why the iPhone Ultra is providing the impetus
The real trigger is likely the anticipated foldable iPhone. Its roughly 7.8-inch internal display would ruthlessly expose a fundamental limitation of iOS: virtually every iPhone app is designed for a tall, narrow display. Without a system-level solution, these apps would appear on the larger screen only as a narrow strip with wide black borders – a rather unappealing sight on a premium device. How such a display could be used in practice is one of the central questions surrounding the expected foldable iPhone.
It's noteworthy that the leaker actually praises iOS in this regard, describing it as fundamentally excellent – however, the large-screen adaptation has always fallen short of its potential. A system-wide solution would therefore not only benefit the foldable model, but could also make iOS more flexible overall.
A report from the spring supports this theory
This information aligns with previous reports from Bloomberg. Back in March, they stated that iOS 27 would allow two apps to be displayed side-by-side on the inner display of the foldable iPhone – with an iPad-like layout and navigation bars on the left edge in supported apps. Both reports thus paint a consistent picture: Apple is specifically preparing iOS for larger and wider screens.
The actual performance might not follow until autumn
Apple will most likely offer a first glimpse of iOS 27 on June 8th at the start of WWDC 2026. Whether the split-screen function will play a role there is questionable, however: since it's so closely integrated with the inner display of the foldable iPhone, it would make sense for Apple to demonstrate it in detail only when the device itself is on stage. Its unveiling is expected in the fall, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, and coinciding with the release of the final iOS version.
Should the feature be confirmed, it would be far more than a minor detail: it would lay the foundation for the first foldable iPhone to truly utilize its greatest strength – the additional screen space. (Image: Shutterstock / DANIEL CONSTANTE)
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