Apple plans to enable split-screen multitasking for two apps on its book-type foldable iPhone, which unfolds to an iPad Mini-sized display. Mark Gurman reported the feature in Bloomberg's Power On newsletter on March 11, 2026. MacRumors, Investing.com, and DigiTimes confirmed the details. The device will ship within Apple's 2026-2027 roadmap and will run a custom OS distinct from iPadOS.

The two-app cap delivers iPhone users a slice of iPad-style productivity without overwhelming the interface. Users can check notes during a video call or reply to a message while browsing. The restriction keeps the OS architecture simple and targets professionals who value speed over extensive window management. Power users accustomed to Android foldables supporting three or more windows may find the limit restrictive.

The internal panel measures between 7.6 and 7.8 inches with a wide aspect ratio optimized for video viewing. The outer cover screen remains around 5.4 inches, preserving a pocket-friendly footprint. Apple selected a punch-hole front camera after abandoning under-display options due to image-quality concerns. The move maintains the Dynamic Island experience familiar to current iPhone owners.

Analysts project a starting price near $2,000, with some estimates reaching $2,500.

The cost reflects the complexity of the hinge mechanism, the custom OS development, and the dual-display engineering required to deliver seamless transitions between folded and unfolded states.

Developer adoption of the new side-panel layouts will determine whether the two-app split gains traction. Apple is expected to provide software development tools and guidelines to help app makers optimize their interfaces for the foldable format. Third-party apps will need time to adapt their designs for the new screen configuration. The speed of this adaptation—and the quality of early implementations—will shape the device's first-year reception and indicate whether Apple can replicate the iPad's developer ecosystem success in a new form factor.