iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 reveal what Apple might be planning for foldable iPhone

No Major Visual Overhaul for iOS 27, iPadOS 27

Apple is set to unveil the next iterations of its iPhone and iPad operating systems at WWDC 2026, with expectations tilted toward refinement rather than a sweeping redesign. A seasoned journalist familiar with the matter says the updates, known as iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, focus on improving the design introduced with iOS 26 while adding features tied to a rumored iPhone Fold. The report keeps to the line that there will be no major overhaul akin to last year’s Liquid Glass refresh.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes in the Power On newsletter that the changes are expected to be incremental rather than a wholesale shift. While some users previously raised concerns about readability where translucent interface layers overlap with text or icons, Apple is said to be refining these aspects via software updates such as iOS 26.4, which Bloomberg reports is expected to be announced soon.

Apple’s design leadership shifted after the departure of former interface chief Alan Dye, but sources say there are no current indications the company plans to abandon the Liquid Glass look. In beta cycles, Apple has experimented with a systemwide control to adjust the glass effect’s intensity; a limited version exists on the lock screen clock, but extending it across app folders, navigation bars, and the home screen has faced engineering challenges.

According to the report, it appears that Apple has decided to keep the design from the previous version of the iPhone operating system, which was called iOS 26, and continue that theme for version 27 instead of creating an entirely new visual interface. The exception to this rule is that developers will not be able to create an entirely new interface, but they may see changes to how their application appears on a specific device, depending on what features are supported.

The addition of new features to the iPhone 6 is being delayed until Apple announces their next-generation iPhone model, which is reported to incorporate folding technology (for example, a foldable iPhone) that will require new software designs that include changes to how the application is designed from the start. However, there are already reports of engineers designing applications that will change how they appear when the device is opened and will integrate with other applications that are already installed.

At the moment, Apple is rumored to be considering moving the navigation buttons or controls to the right side of the screen when the device is unfolded. This would allow Apple to maximize the space on the iPhone's internal display while still providing a way for users to easily access and/or interact with their applications and content on their device. Sources also indicate a first-time move toward split-screen multitasking on the iPhone for this foldable model, enabling two apps to run side by side on the larger screen. The objective is to have a continuum between folding and unfolding, which integrates with the overall system interface work.

Folded device changes presented as part of an overall effort to create a unified experience across Apple products; this interface is said to be inspired by VisionOS, contributing to this greater cohesiveness for the entire ecosystem. The Liquid Glass design was unveiled at WWDC 2025 — it represents Apple's most significant visual redesign in more than ten years — with glass-like effects added throughout the experience, including in the navigation bars, widgets, icons, search fields, etc. This new strategic direction is intended to respond to visual experience discussions and the AI race rather than indicate an outright situation change regarding AI initiatives.

Changes under the surface that support foldable iPhone:

• Redesigned layouts responsive to unfolding
• Left-hand navigation within dissolved state
• Split-screen multitasking for iPhone (eg. folding device)
• Folding iPhone apps behave more like folding iPad apps
• Liquid Glass continues to be part of the overall design language

As with previous WWDCs, WWDC 2026 will provide more detail about the feature set of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 and will provide actionable steps to improve foldable support, as well as for continued refinement of the interface. There will not be a firm timeframe beyond WWDC typical, but