Building Apps for the Foldable Device Revolution in 2025

"The foldable revolution demands apps that adapt, flow, and perform seamlessly."
 

In the rapidly evolving world of mobile technology, foldable device app development is emerging as a critical focus for developers aiming to capitalize on innovative hardware. As foldable smartphones gain traction, offering users versatile form factors that blend phone and tablet experiences, mastering foldable device app development becomes essential. This blog explores the strategies, best practices, and trends shaping app creation for these devices in 2025, ensuring seamless user experiences across varying screen states.
 

The Rise of Foldable Devices

The foldable smartphone market is experiencing explosive growth in 2025, driven by advancements in display technology and consumer demand for multifunctional devices. According to recent data, the foldable smartphone market size is estimated at USD 31.30 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 118.87 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.59%. This surge reflects a shift from niche gadgets to mainstream adoption, with shipments expected to hit 19.8 million units globally this year. In comparison, the overall smartphone market is forecasted to grow by just 1% in 2025, while foldables are accelerating at 6% year-over-year.
 

The adaptive foundation: layouts that bend without breaking

On a fold/unfold, Android may recreate your activity and layout; screen continuity in foldable apps means users should feel nothing “breaks” mid-action. Preserve input states, scroll positions, and media playback so the task resumes instantly on the larger (or smaller) canvas. Treat an unfold like a promotion: more pixels to communicate hierarchy, context, and shortcuts.

Design for posture (flat, book, tabletop), separating features (hinge/fold), and window size classes. Large, inner displays often invite two-pane UIs; compact cover screens call for focused single-pane flows. Compose’s adaptive layouts + WindowManager signals make that mapping straightforward.
 

Core Principles of Foldable Device App Development

1. Adaptive UI Design for Foldables

Foldables demand more than just “responsive” layouts. Apps must dynamically adjust between compact cover screens and expanded tablet-like displays. Using window size classes, posture detection, and hinge-aware layouts ensures content remains legible, intuitive, and context-appropriate across screen states.

2. Screen Continuity and State Preservation

One of the biggest user expectations is seamless screen continuity in foldable apps. Tasks should remain uninterrupted during fold/unfold transitions—whether it’s typing in a form, scrolling through feeds, or watching a video. Preserving UI state across configuration changes is non-negotiable.

3. Multi-Window and Multitasking Support

Foldables shine when users run multiple apps side by side. Apps must support multi-window on foldable devices, handling resizable surfaces, drag-and-drop actions, and flexible dialogs without breaking workflows. This positions your app as productivity-friendly and future-ready.

4. Posture-Aware Experiences

Beyond size changes, foldables introduce unique “postures” such as tabletop (Flex mode), book, and tent. Apps that adapt intelligently—moving video playback to the top and controls to the bottom, or splitting chat and media views—deliver a premium, posture-aware experience.

5. Performance and Optimization

With larger canvases and heavier multitasking, performance bottlenecks show up quickly. Efficient rendering, optimized memory usage, and careful battery management are essential. Apps should gracefully scale, ensuring smooth transitions and lag-free interactions across different fold/unfold scenarios.
 

The three pillars of great foldable UX

1) Adaptive UI design for foldables: from responsive to posture-aware

Start with responsive breakpoints (compact/medium/expanded), then layer posture-specific affordances:

• Two-pane master-detail on the inner screen; single-pane on the cover. SlidingPaneLayout and adaptive lists/cards are your friends. It’s fold-aware and can place panes on either side of the hinge automatically.

• Hinge-aware content: avoid placing tappable controls under the fold; route them to the “safe” pane. WindowManager’s WindowLayoutInfo tells you when an occluding fold exists.

• Tabletop (Flex) mode: when the device is half-open on a table, prioritize media on the top pane and controls/timeline on the bottom. Samsung explicitly supports Flex mode patterns users already expect.
   

2) Multi-window support on foldable devices: embrace true multitasking

Foldables shine when users drag apps into split-screen or even desktop-style windows. Make every surface resizable; test for minimum widths and height-constrained states; avoid hardcoded assumptions. Android 12L+ added a taskbar and improved split-screen to make multitasking mainstream—if your app behaves well, users notice.

Large foldables can run two or three apps at once; some launchers support desktop windowing (freeform, resizable windows). Your app should be “window-literate”: fluid when narrow, opportunistic when wide (showing secondary panels, richer previews, drag-and-drop targets).
 

3) Screen continuity in foldable apps: instant, stateful transitions

Handle folds/unfolds and rotations as moments to enhance context, not interrupt it. Persist ephemeral UI state (inputs, playback, scroll), debounce network calls during recreation, and render above-the-fold content first on the cover screen. Google’s guidance is explicit here; following it pays immediate UX dividends.
 

Challenges and Solutions in Foldable Device App Development

1. Adaptive UI Complexity

Challenge: Designing for multiple form factors—cover screens, unfolded displays, and different postures—adds complexity. A layout that looks perfect in one state may feel broken in another.

Solution: Use adaptive UI design for foldables with size classes and posture APIs (e.g., Jetpack WindowManager). Build modular, reusable components that rearrange dynamically instead of duplicating layouts for each state.
 

2. Ensuring Screen Continuity

Challenge: Many apps lose user progress (text input, scroll position, media playback) when the device folds/unfolds because Android may recreate activities.

Solution: Implement robust screen continuity in foldable apps using ViewModel, rememberSaveable (Compose), and persistent state management. Test transitions with emulators and real devices to ensure seamless continuity.
 

3. Multi-Window Compatibility

Challenge: Foldables encourage multitasking, but apps not optimized for multi-window support on foldable devices may crash, misalign UI, or block resizable layouts.

Solution: Design resizable UIs that handle split-screen, freeform, and drag-and-drop scenarios. Test narrow and constrained windows, and avoid hard-coded dimensions that break in multitasking environments.
 

4. Posture-Aware Usability

Challenge: Users expect apps to adapt to unique postures (Flex/tabletop/book). Without adjustments, controls or media may land under the hinge or in awkward regions.

Solution: Use hinge-aware APIs to detect fold bounds. For tabletop mode, place content (video/chat) on one half and controls on the other. Prioritize ergonomics over symmetry.
 

5. Performance and Resource Strain

Challenge: Foldable apps often need to render two panes or large canvases, which strains CPU, GPU, and battery. Poor optimization leads to lag or overheating.

Solution: Optimize with lazy loading, paging, and efficient image handling. Profile memory and CPU usage in multi-window and posture changes. Ensure smooth 60fps+ transitions during fold/unfold animations.
 

Product patterns that convert on foldables

• Reading & media: In tabletop (Flex) posture, move playback to the top, show comments/chapters/lyrics below; in book posture, paginate with a natural gutter. (Samsung details Flex-mode affordances that users know.)

• Comms & productivity: Default to two-pane (threads + detail). Enable drag-and-drop between apps in split-screen. Support quick compose/reply on the cover.

• Commerce: Use the inner display to compare variants, zoom 3D models, or run a try-on preview; on the cover, keep to one decisive action (add to cart / pay).

• Maps & travel: Side-by-side map and itinerary; in tabletop posture, use the bottom half as a controller for filters, legs, and receipts.
   

KPIs for foldable success (and how to move them)

• Time to first action on cover vs. inner: The cover must make “quick do” tasks faster than a normal phone, not slower.

• Two-pane engagement rate: % sessions on inner display that trigger a second pane (details, filters, comparison).

• Multi-window completion: Tasks finished while your app shares the screen—optimize dialogs, toasts, and copy/paste for multi-window support on foldable devices.

• Continuity success: % of unfolds where state is preserved (no lost scroll or inputs). Target > 99%.

• Play listing uplift: Improvement in conversion after meeting the large-screen checklist (Google Play promotes optimized apps). 
   

Future Trends: Beyond 2025

• Market Growth – The foldable phone market is set to jump from USD 13.5 B in 2025 to USD 112.4 B by 2035 (26.2% CAGR).

• AI-Driven Interfaces – The global on-device AI market is estimated at USD 26.61 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 124.07 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 24.6%

• AR Integration – Larger foldable screens will boost immersive AR/VR apps, enhancing gaming, productivity, and hybrid reality use cases.

• Hybrid Devices – Foldable laptops, wearables, and rollables will expand the ecosystem, requiring apps that adapt across device categories.

• Smart UI Behaviors – AI will enable displays to adjust layouts, brightness, and content placement automatically based on posture and context.
   

The bottom line

Foldable device app development in 2025 is less about “supporting a weird device” and more about unlocking a bigger stage for your app on every large screen. Users reward apps that keep tasks flowing as the screen transforms, split-screen hums, and posture-aware layouts feel intentional. If you invest in Adaptive UI design for foldables, solid screen continuity in foldable apps, and reliable multi-window support on foldable devices, you’ll ship a premium experience that stands out—today on foldables and tomorrow on whatever new shapes arrive.
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is foldable device app development important in 2025?

Foldables are no longer niche—shipments are projected to reach 25–30 million units annually by 2025. Users expect apps that adapt seamlessly between compact and expanded screens. Apps not optimized risk poor reviews and lower visibility on app stores.

2. How does adaptive UI design for foldables differ from regular responsive design?

Responsive design adjusts for screen size, but adaptive UI design for foldables must also account for hinge positions, folding postures (like tabletop/book mode), and transitions between cover and inner displays. It’s about responsiveness plus posture-awareness.

3. What is screen continuity in foldable apps and why does it matter?

Screen continuity in foldable apps ensures that user tasks—typing, scrolling, or watching media—continue seamlessly when switching from folded to unfolded state. Without it, users experience interruptions, lost progress, and frustration.

4. How can apps support multi-window usage on foldable devices?

Supporting multi-window on foldable devices means making layouts resizable, ensuring dialogs and popups scale properly, and enabling features like drag-and-drop. Testing in split-screen and freeform modes is critical for a smooth multitasking experience.

5. What are the main challenges developers face with foldables?

Key challenges include managing adaptive UI complexity, preserving state across folds, optimizing performance on larger displays, and handling posture changes. Solutions involve using Android’s WindowManager API, modular Compose layouts, and extensive testing on emulators and real devices.