Foldable devices have emerged as a new frontier in the evolution of smart tech. They offer a unique blend of portability and improved user experience (UX).
According to Statista’s Foldable smartphone unit shipments worldwide 2024 Report,
With Samsung leading the market, other companies like Motorola and OnePlus have entered. Recently, Samsung launched its Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6.
The advent of these devices has been a game-changer. It offers users the convenience of a larger screen in a compact form factor. This innovation opens up exciting possibilities for app developers. It promotes a review of design and functionality to use the unique capabilities of foldable tech.
This article explores the evolution of app design for foldable devices, its design principles, and testing.
The Evolution of App Design for Foldable Devices
The emergence of foldable devices marks a big change in the tech and design landscapes. As these devices become more prevalent, they demand a more fluid and responsive approach to app development that can cater to the diverse ways they might be used.
The challenge lies in transitioning from static, one-size-fits-all design principles to a more dynamic, adaptable framework. Foldable devices, with their unique capability to alter screen size and aspect ratio in seconds, require apps that can do more than just resize.
They must offer a seamless transition between modes. This ensures that UX remains consistent and engaging, whether the device is folded or unfolded. This calls for innovative UI/UX design thinking, focusing on flexibility in-app interfaces.
This is a huge opportunity for apps that traditionally benefit from larger displays, such as gaming, multimedia, and productivity apps, to redefine their UX.
Equally important is the user-centric approach that this new design paradigm requires. Samsung introduced Samsung AI with the S series and continued it with the Z series, which has more AI features. Developers must keep the end-users’ needs and preferences at the forefront, understanding how they interact with foldable devices and what they expect from these experiences.
Keeping AI aside, developers must first understand the important design principles.
Also Read: Why Developers Should Care About User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
Design Principles for Foldable Screen Apps
It is essential to create appealing apps on these new types of screens and use the distinctive features of foldable devices. Here are the key principles:
Responsiveness:
Responsive design has always been a cornerstone of app development. However, it takes on new importance with foldable devices. They must ensure their apps can seamlessly adapt to various screen sizes and orientations without losing functionality or aesthetic appeal.
They must implement flexible layouts and dynamic resizing of content so that the app looks and works perfectly, whether a device is folded, partially unfolded, or completely open.
This can involve using development frameworks and tools that support the fluid changing of UI elements. They must also test the app in various configurations to guarantee consistent performance.
Embracing the Fold:
Foldable devices offer unique features such as multitasking and multi-window. If properly used, they can greatly improve the app’s functionality. They must design with these features, considering how their app can use the extra screen or the physical separation between screens when folded.
This could mean enabling a drag-and-drop feature between two parts of the app when in multi-window mode or designing elements that use the crease as a natural division for content. The goal is to make the fold a benefit, not a limitation, improving the user’s interaction with the app.
Designing with Continuity:
When they shift between folded and unfolded modes, users must not feel like switching between two different apps. Continuity in design ensures that the UX is cohesive, regardless of how the device is used. This involves maintaining the state and context of the app across these modes so that no data is lost or hidden during the transition.
For example, suppose a user watches a video on a folded screen and decides to unfold the device for a larger view. In that case, the video should seamlessly expand to fill the larger display without interruption. Similarly, UI elements and controls should adapt but remain intuitive and familiar to the user, preserving app navigation and functionality.
It is also important to test the apps on the devices when designing.
Also Read: Top Factors that Impact Mobile App Development Costs
Testing The App on Foldable Devices
Testing is crucial in developing apps for foldable devices. It helps ensure the app’s performance across folding states and various form factors. They must engage in extensive testing, starting with emulators for an initial assessment and moving to real-device testing for genuine insights into user interactions and performance.
Regular testing phases allow them to refine app performance and UX. They must address the specific demands of foldable device tech and align with user expectations.
Folding Up
The rise of foldable devices marks a major shift in mobile tech. It poses huge opportunities for app developers. By adapting the principles, they can craft exceptional user experiences specifically for foldable screens.
Through rigorous testing, these apps can seamlessly adapt to various configurations of foldable devices. This ensures optimal performance. As this tech evolves, continuous innovation and a user-centric design approach will be key to unlocking the full potential of foldable devices. This will keep developers at the forefront of this exciting tech evolution.
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