As mobile devices continue to evolve, so does the need for mobile apps that can take advantage of new hardware features. One of the latest innovations in mobile hardware is the foldable device. These devices offer a new form factor that presents both opportunities and challenges for app developers.
In this guide, we’ll take a detailed look at how to design and develop mobile apps for foldable devices. We’ll discuss the unique challenges that these devices present and explore some best practices for creating apps that take full advantage of their capabilities.
If you’re ready to get started developing for foldable devices, let’s dive in!
Challenges of Developing for Foldable Devices
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Different Screen Sizes & Aspect Ratios
One of the biggest challenges of developing mobile apps for foldable devices is dealing with the different screen sizes and aspect ratios. These devices can have either a single large display or two smaller displays that can be folded together. This means that your app will need to be able to adapt its UI to both large & small screens.
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New Designs
Another challenge is dealing with the fact that foldable devices are still relatively new. This means that there are still some unknowns when it comes to how people will use them. It’s important to keep this in mind when designing your app so that you can create an experience that is intuitive and easy to use.
Best Practices for Developing Mobile Apps for Foldable Devices
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Keep the UI Simple and Intuitive
When you talk about mobile application design, simplicity is always key. This becomes quite important when developing for foldable devices. These devices have a variety of screen sizes and aspect ratios, which can make it challenging to create a complex UI that looks good on all of them.
Instead, focus on creating a simple and intuitive UI that is easy to use no matter what size screen your app is being viewed on. This will help in ensuring that your users have a positive experience.
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Use the Extra Screen Real Estate
One of the benefits of foldable devices is that they offer extra screen real estate. This can be your advantage by adding extra content or functionality to your app.
For example, you could use the extra space to display more information at once. Or, you could add new features that take note of the larger screen size. Just be sure that whatever you add is relevant and useful to your users.
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Optimization for Different Screen Sizes & Aspect Ratios
As we mentioned before, one of the challenges of developing for foldable devices is dealing with the different screen sizes and aspect ratios. To overcome this challenge, it’s important to optimize your app for both large and small screens.
This means creating a UI that looks good on all screen sizes and ensuring that your app’s functionality is not hindered by the different aspect ratios. By doing this, you’ll ensure that your app provides a great experience no matter how it is being used.
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Testing
As with any mobile app development services project, testing is essential. This is especially true when developing for foldable devices, as there are still some unknowns when it comes to how these devices will be used.
Be sure to extensively test your app on both large & small screens. This will help you catch any potential issues & ensure the working of the app.
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Stay Up-to-Date on the Latest Developments
Foldable devices are still relatively new, which means that there are always new developments to stay up-to-date on. Keep an eye on the latest news and trends so that you can make sure your app is always ahead of the curve.
By following these best practices, you’ll be well on your way to creating a great mobile app for foldable devices. Just remember to keep things simple, take advantage of the extra screen real estate, and test your app thoroughly before launch.
If you need some assistance with mobile app development services, be sure to contact a top mobile app development company and maybe you can look to hire Flutter app developers too. They will have the experience and expertise necessary to ensure that your app is a success.
Last Say
The foldable phone market is growing, and developers who want to stay ahead of the curve should start designing and developing mobile apps for foldable devices. We’ve seen a surge in interest from our clients when it comes to foldable, so we know that this is something you need to be thinking about if you want your app to remain competitive. In this article, we’ve outlined some tips for designing and developing mobile apps for foldable devices. We hope you find them helpful.
Author’s Bio
Josephine is an expert mobile app developer at MobileCoderz, the industry’s top mobile app development company. With over a decade experience from mobile app development companies, she has worked with many startups, SMEs and other leading companies. Besides writing about technology and experimenting with new technologies as a hobby, she also enjoys playing around with new technology.
