Developing Apps for Foldable and Flexible Displays

February 23rd, 2025 at 10:30 am

With the increasing adoption of foldable smartphones and flexible tablets, mobile app developers must adapt their designs to accommodate dynamic screen sizes, multi-window capabilities, and seamless user experiences. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, Google Pixel Fold, and Microsoft Surface Duo are leading the way, pushing mobile UI trends toward adaptive, flexible, and multi-screen layouts.

Building apps for foldable displays requires technical considerations, UI/UX adaptations, and performance optimizations to deliver seamless experiences across different form factors.

In this article, we explore:

The growing trend of foldable devices in 2025
Key design principles for foldable app development
Challenges in foldable UI optimization and how to overcome them
The future of foldable and flexible screen technology

If you’re a developer, UI/UX designer, or tech entrepreneur, this guide provides essential insights into building next-gen foldable device apps.

The Rise of Foldable Devices in 2025

Foldable and flexible display technology is rapidly evolving, with manufacturers investing in durable screen materials, adaptive software, and high-refresh-rate displays. By 2025, foldable devices are expected to dominate premium smartphone markets, offering users larger screens without sacrificing portability.

Why Foldable Devices Are Gaining Popularity:

Expanded Screen Real Estate: Users can switch between compact phone mode and full-screen tablet mode.
Enhanced Productivity: Multi-window functionality enables users to run multiple apps side by side.
Immersive Experiences: Larger, flexible screens improve gaming, video streaming, and reading experiences.
Innovative User Interfaces: Drag-and-drop gestures and adaptive UI layouts enhance usability.

Leading Foldable Devices in 2025:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold & Z Flip Series
Google Pixel Fold
Oppo Find N & Huawei Mate X Series
Microsoft Surface Duo & Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold

As foldable devices become mainstream, developers must optimize app layouts, navigation, and performance for seamless transitions between screen states.

Design Principles for Foldable Screen Apps

1. Adaptive Layouts for Multiple Screen Sizes

Foldable apps must adjust dynamically between folded (single-screen) and unfolded (tablet-like) states. Responsive UI design is essential to ensure apps look and function optimally across different screen modes.

Use ConstraintLayout and Jetpack WindowManager (Android) or Auto Layout (iOS) to handle dynamic screen resizing.
Implement a fluid grid system to ensure UI elements adjust without distortion.
Optimize media queries and scalable fonts for readability across compact and expanded views.

Real-World Example:

Google Maps on foldable devices dynamically adapts map scaling and UI placement when switching from a single screen to a large display.

Pro Tip: Test your app using Android’s Foldable Emulator and Samsung’s Remote Test Lab to simulate real-world screen transitions.

2. Multi-Window and Multi-Tasking Considerations

Foldable devices support multi-window mode, allowing users to run multiple apps side by side. Developers must ensure that apps remain functional, resizable, and efficient when used in split-screen or multi-instance modes.

Allow resizable activities so apps can adapt when resized dynamically.
Optimize memory management to prevent performance issues when running multiple apps.
Enable drag-and-drop interactions between apps to enhance multi-tasking workflows.

Real-World Example:

Microsoft Surface Duo allows two separate app instances to run simultaneously on different screens, enhancing productivity.

Pro Tip: Implement activity lifecycle awareness to ensure apps retain user progress when switching between multi-tasking modes.

3. Gesture-Based Navigation for Flexible Screens

Foldable devices introduce new gesture controls, including swipes, pinches, and drags for seamless navigation. Developers must adapt UI gestures to accommodate different folded and unfolded states.

Support edge swipes for app transitions between screens.
Enable gesture-based app switching when users fold/unfold the device.
Ensure smooth animations for transitions between different screen modes.

Real-World Example:

Samsung’s One UI for foldable phones supports swipe-to-split gestures, allowing users to instantly open a second app in split-screen mode.

Pro Tip: Use Android’s Jetpack WindowManager API or Apple’s UIScene APIs to detect and optimize app behavior for foldable screen gestures.

Challenges in Foldable App Development and How to Overcome Them

1. Handling Screen Transitions and UI Consistency

Problem: UI elements may resize improperly when switching between folded and unfolded states.
Solution: Implement ConstraintLayout (Android) or Auto Layout (iOS) to ensure flexible UI adaptability.

2. Performance Optimization for Multi-Screen Apps

Problem: Running apps in split-screen mode increases CPU and battery usage.
Solution: Optimize app memory management and implement lazy loading techniques for better efficiency.

3. Ensuring App Compatibility Across Different Devices

Problem: Foldable devices have varied aspect ratios and hinge mechanisms, making it challenging to create one-size-fits-all UI designs.
Solution: Test apps on multiple foldable devices and use Android’s Window Size Classes or Apple’s SwiftUI adaptive layouts to ensure universal compatibility.

4. Gesture and Navigation Complexity

Problem: Gesture-based navigation may conflict with existing app gestures.
Solution: Customize gestures to align with device-specific UX patterns without interfering with core app functionality.

By addressing these technical challenges, developers can ensure smooth, adaptive, and high-performance experiences on foldable devices.

The Future of Foldable Devices and Mobile Apps

With advancements in foldable screen durability, flexible OLED technology, and AI-powered UI adaptation, the future of foldable devices looks promising.

Upcoming Trends in Foldable App Development:

AI-Powered Adaptive Interfaces: Apps will use machine learning to predict and optimize UI layouts based on user behavior.
Expanded Multi-App Productivity: Foldable devices will support floating windows, enhanced drag-and-drop, and seamless app continuity.
Augmented Reality (AR) Integration: Foldable screens will enhance AR navigation, gaming, and virtual collaboration experiences.
Wearable & IoT Compatibility: Foldable devices will sync seamlessly with smartwatches, AR glasses, and IoT-connected devices.
5G & Cloud Computing Optimization: Foldable devices will leverage cloud-based AI processing for high-performance mobile applications.

As foldable technology becomes mainstream, mobile app developers must embrace adaptive UI frameworks, multi-screen optimization, and gesture-driven navigation to stay ahead in the evolving mobile landscape.

Conclusion

Foldable and flexible displays are shaping the future of mobile app design, requiring developers to rethink UI layouts, gesture controls, and multi-tasking functionalities.

Adaptive layouts are essential for ensuring seamless transitions between folded and unfolded states.
Multi-tasking capabilities must be optimized to support split-screen functionality and drag-and-drop interactions.
Gesture-based navigation requires fine-tuned UX designs for intuitive and smooth user experiences.
Challenges like UI consistency, performance optimization, and cross-device compatibility must be addressed for foldable-ready apps.
Future innovations, including AI-driven UI adaptation, AR enhancements, and cloud-powered experiences, will redefine foldable app development.