Foldable & Dual-Screen App Development: Best Practices

Key Highlights

• Foldable devices introduce expanded screens and flexible displays, revolutionising mobile app development with responsive layouts and dynamic user interfaces tailored to unique screen states.

• Best practices for foldable screens ensure seamless app continuity, adaptive layouts, and enhanced user experience across different screen configurations.

• Multi-window functionality and split-screen design make multitasking more intuitive and productive for users on larger screens.

• Developers leverage platform-specific tools like Jetpack WindowManager and React Native for foldable app development and improved resource management.

• Rigorous testing on both real and emulated devices enhances performance across foldable states and ensures app reliability.

The rest of this blog dives deep into foldable app development strategies, challenges, and future trends.

Introduction

Foldable devices are changing mobile technology in a big way. They have flexible screens and new layouts that change the way we think about app design. These devices can be used both folded and unfolded, which means they need a new kind of app development. If you are a mobile app developer or a business owner, you have to make your mobile app ready for foldable screens. This helps give users a better user experience. They can do more at the same time, enjoy smooth app continuity, and find it easier to use apps. This blog looks at some best practices and tips for better app design and foldable app optimization.

Foldable & Dual-Screen App Development: Best Practices for Modern Devices

Foldable screens and dual-screen devices have changed the way people do mobile development. This makes you and other developers think in new ways about how apps should work and look. To get the best out of these devices, it is important to use adaptive layouts, smooth transitions, and strong multitasking tools. By using the right development methods, you can give all users a good experience, no matter what screen size or the way they hold the device.

To get the most from foldable screens and foldable smartphones, developers need to use flexible interfaces and tools made for each platform. Also, it helps to focus on user needs and how people use a device in different ways. Now, let us look at these best practices for mobile development.

1. Understand Device Types and Form Factors

Understanding the many types of foldable devices is key in foldable app development. Some devices, like single-fold phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, and clamshell foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, bring different screen sizes and ways people use them. At the same time, there are dual-screen devices such as the Microsoft Surface Duo. These have a hinge in the middle, and that means your foldable app has to be ready to handle this special style.

App layout needs to work well on all these different forms. For example, a foldable app should move easily from a small, phone-size screen to a larger, tablet-sized screen as you open the device. Doing this helps your app look good and work well on any foldable device, no matter the screen size.

When the screen size and resolution change, the user interfaces also need to change to match. Developers need to make sure the app layout has flexible images and an adaptive UI. This will help keep the design looking the same on all types of foldable devices, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold or Surface Duo. Navigation must also be easy to use, both when the device is folded and unfolded. If not, people may get frustrated with your foldable app.

2. Optimize User Interfaces for Dynamic Layouts

Dynamic layouts are important in foldable app development. They help the app look smooth when there are different screen configurations. Using adaptive layouts can help reduce problems when the screen changes. Here are some ways to make user interfaces better:

• Use responsive design principles: Use tools like Jetpack Compose and ConstraintLayout. These help make layouts that work with many screen sizes.

• Position critical elements strategically: Do not put key UI components or navigation buttons near the hinge zone.

• Maintain consistency in screen states: Make sure fonts, images, and containers change the right way when states change.

• Utilize edge-to-edge designs: Use all available screen space to give an immersive feel.

Putting responsive design first is a good way to make smooth transitions. It gives people the best use in both compact and expanded screen modes. Next, you will see ways to keep app functionality working well while folding and unfolding.

3. Implement Seamless App Continuity Across Screens

Making sure that app continuity works well is key to giving users a seamless user experience on any foldable device. When your app moves between a folded or unfolded state, it needs to keep on working without losing any user input or progress.

For this, developers should use lifecycle management tools like onConfigurationChanged() and ViewModel. These tools help to keep the data safe during different screen transitions and work well, even when the screen changes shape. This way, there are no random app restarts or moments when input is lost. It helps make the user experience steady.

To make these transitions better, it's good to anchor UI elements so things flow smoothly. Using MotionLayout or Jetpack Compose for frame-by-frame state changes can add a lot to the user experience. These changes make transitions look smooth and nice, making users happy. Following the best practices for continuity will make the app more solid across various foldable screens. As you plan further, remember that good multi-window design is important for people using a foldable device.

4. Design for Multi-Window and Split-Screen Experiences

Foldable devices are great for multitasking. They let people use more than one app window at a time or split the screen. This means app design should make sure to give a smooth and seamless user experience. Apps need to work well, even when running side by side or in split modes.

To get this right, app design should use UI components that can change and fit into smaller spaces. The app should allow people to open more than one instance and keep each window working on its own. This way, there is no break in dual-screen use. Also, using lightweight processes and lazy loading will help keep the app fast when in split-screen.

When making split-screen experiences, think about how people use the app. The most used navigation buttons should go in easy-to-reach places. The app should let users move things with drag-and-drop between different windows. These multi-window features make the app more useful and help it fit foldable devices. The next part will talk about special tools that help people make better apps for these platforms.

5. Leverage Platform-Specific APIs and Tools

Platform-specific tools play a big part in making apps work well on foldable phones. Google’s Jetpack APIs and Android Studio give you what you need to build apps that can handle many types of foldable phones. Developers use APIs like Jetpack WindowManager to figure out the way a device is folded or where its hinge sits. This helps apps make quick screen changes when the device is folded in different ways. When developers work with these APIs and tools in an adaptive way, they can build foldable apps that fit many screen setups. The next step is to see ways to improve speed and smooth use when you open or close foldable phones.

6. Prioritize Performance Across Fold States

Performance optimization is very important for apps on foldable devices. When you move between fold states, this puts more pressure on system resources. To handle this, you need smart resource management.

To boost performance, keep your app simple and use what you have wisely. Developers can choose lightweight pieces and manage threads well to stop delays during screen transitions. Tools like Jetpack Compose help with app transitions, making them easier to follow and less disruptive.

Testing how your app works in all fold states helps keep it working well. If your device storage gets low, you can make the app better by cutting down memory-heavy tasks or by using lazy-loading while multitasking. Good performance management means your app will stay quick and flexible, keeping people interested.

Designs using gestures add to the whole experience. We will look at those next.

7. Enhance Interactions with Gesture and Input Support

Gesture and input-based designs help people interact easily with the large screens on foldable devices. Good gesture recognition makes moving around in the app smooth. Different input methods also work with the different screen states on these devices.

UI components, such as sliders or menus you control with gestures, help people use the app naturally. Gestures that change based on whether the screen is folded or unfolded help create a good user experience. This makes the app feel more fun and easy to use.

Custom gesture controls and clear feedback make the app work better. When you add interactive things to the screen, it helps people use the app without problems. Developers must add many ways for people to use gestures and make sure it all works on an expanded screen. In the future, developers also need to think about accessibility so that everyone, including people with different needs, can use foldable app designs.

8. Address Accessibility and Usability Needs

When you make an app for foldable devices, you need to think about accessibility. The app should work well for people with different needs and on different screen setups.

• Adjustable UI scaling: Make the layout easy to change in size. This helps people who have problems seeing to use the app too.

• Intuitive navigation systems: Put the touch buttons and controls in easy-to-find spots. This is good for users that have trouble moving their hands.

• Gesture alternatives: Give other ways to use the app if some people can't use gestures.

Usability features should match up with adaptive layouts, so the app works just as well when folded or unfolded. Making your app work for all kinds of users is not just about following rules. It helps make the app better for everyone. Testing your design really well will help make sure people can use it easily in every mode the device offers.

9. Test Thoroughly on Real and Emulated Devices

Thorough testing plays a key role to make sure a foldable app works well on new devices. Developers have to test the app on many screen sizes and setups. Doing this helps them spot and fix problems early on.

Testing tools such as Android Emulator, Firebase Test Lab, and Samsung Remote Test Lab give safe places where you can copy how foldable devices open and close.

• Test split-screen functionality: Check if your layout changes well when you use two windows at the same time.

• Simulate diverse device postures: Use WindowLayoutInfo to see how your app acts when you move the hinge to different spots.

• Evaluate app performance: Find out if the app gets slow or stops working right when you fold or unfold the device.

Try the foldable app on both real devices and test platforms to make sure people always get a smooth and strong experience. Knowing upcoming trends helps make these apps even better in the future. That topic comes next.

10. Plan for Future Trends in Foldable and Dual-Screen Tech

Foldable technology is becoming more popular. This is because of unique features like rollable and flexible OLED screens. These kinds of screens help bring new ideas and the tech industry will keep changing. Developers need to look out for things like better hinges and new screen sizes.

Some of the new trends now are about people using more multitasking features. This means developers should focus more on how many apps work together and how an app can change size. Phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold are becoming more common. Because of this, making sure apps work with these complex features is now more important in app development.

If you are thinking about the future, your apps need to be ready for a lot of changes. This includes adding new tools and features so the app stays good in the tech industry. To help with this, the next section talks about main problems and answers in foldable app development. This helps make it easier for developers to face any trouble in making a foldable app.

Key Challenges and Solutions in Foldable & Dual-Screen App Development

Foldable app development has many technical challenges. The main one is moving between different display modes. It is also important to keep performance steady all the time. Developers must handle changes in state, figure out hinge problems, and set up layouts that work well on different screen sizes.

The solutions for these issues are clear. You need to use responsive design techniques to make the app adjust to any screen. Using lifecycle events can help keep data safe when things change. It is a must to test the app through all fold states because you want it to work well for everyone. If you deal with these problems in the right way, you can give people seamless app experiences. This helps stop problems with the look and feel of your app. Up next, we will talk about display mode needs for app development and what the developers must solve.

Adapting to Multiple Display Modes and Transitions

Managing how apps display on foldable devices can be tricky. Foldable phones like the Google Pixel Fold need apps that can move easily between small and large screens. This helps give people a better user experience.

To make this happen, developers need to set up app options that change as the screen changes. By using WindowManager APIs, the app can find out the device’s fold shape in real-time. This lets the app change how it looks for different screen setups, helping to make smooth transitions.

Tools like ViewModel save your place inside the app. This keeps everything in order as the layout changes. These tricks help the app work well when the screen shape shifts, making it better to use. Looking after app data through these changes is also important and makes sure foldable phones have fewer problems.

Managing State Changes and Data Persistence

State changes are very important for foldable app functionality. There can be sudden data loss when a device folds or unfolds, and this can make the app hard to use. Developers need to create flexible data structures to keep user inputs safe during these changes.

With ViewModel and the onConfigurationChanged() method, the app will not restart or lose user data. This helps the app keep its structure. Good data persistence methods also help apps work across every device state without losing things like user sessions or forms.

If you use lazy-loading for elements, you can make storage management better. This will help the app run smoothly and not slow down on foldable devices. If you take these steps, your foldable app can avoid data loss and handle every type of device state well.

Conclusion

In the end, making apps for foldable and dual-screen devices comes with its own set of challenges and chances to grow. To do well in app development, you have to know about the different kinds of devices out there. You also need to work on user interfaces that fit well with changing layouts. If you do this, you can build smooth experiences that work with these new technologies. It’s important to focus on how fast and easy the app is to use. You should always test your apps on real devices to see how they work for people.

The tech world keeps changing. So, you need to pay attention to what's new so your apps can keep up, stay useful, and do their job well. If you want help with these new trends in app development and working with smart user interfaces, get in touch with us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main challenges when developing for foldable and dual-screen devices?

Some key challenges in foldable app development are working with different screen sizes, handling state changes, and dealing with hinge transitions. For developers, it is important to create layouts that can change and fit different devices. They need to keep data safe as users move between fold states. It is also key to test how the app can change and to make sure that the user experience stays seamless. Good planning can help deal with these key challenges in app development and make the user experience better.

How do foldable and dual-screen devices impact app design principles?

Foldable devices change the way people do app design. These new devices need adaptive layouts that can change and work well on any screen size. Responsive UI elements are also very important. The app must work smoothly when the device is folded or unfolded. If you want to give people a smooth user experience, you have to focus on how the app looks and feels in all these states. Multitasking and using two screens mean the old design rules do not always work. Now, people have to think of new ideas for app design to give the best user experience.

Which tools and frameworks are recommended for foldable app development?

Some tools to use in foldable app development are Jetpack WindowManager, Jetpack Compose, and Android Studio. They help you build adaptive layouts that can fit on more than one type of screen. There are also frameworks like React Native and Samsung Foldables SDK. These tools have APIs you can use to find out fold states and make better dual-screen designs. It is now easier to make a foldable app for many platforms with these tools and resources.

How can developers ensure the best user experience on foldable and dual-screen devices?

For the best user experience on foldable devices, developers need to focus on responsive design. It is also important to create adaptive layouts that can work well in many situations. Testing should be done both on real devices and on emulated screens to find any issues. To make user interactions smooth and the app work well, all developers should make sure to support app continuity, use easy gestures, and handle state changes.