Foldables

Foldable devices enable a unique user experiences, transitioning smoothly between compact phone-sized screens and expansive tablet-like displays. Foldables introduce unique physical states, or postures, such as tabletop and book posture, that apps can take advantage of to offer specialized layouts and enhanced multitasking capabilities.

Guidelines

Create a premium user experience on premium foldable devices.

Postures and states

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Foldables_Postures T-Foldables_Postures

App supports all foldable postures and related use cases:

  • Tabletop posture — Video calling and video or audio playback.
  • Book posture — Reading lengthy text content.
  • Dual display — Front and back screen preview for camera apps.
See Learn about foldables.
Foldables_Camera T-Foldables_Camera Camera apps adjust their preview for folded and unfolded states and support front and back screen preview.

Multitasking and multi-instance

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Foldables_Multitasking_Scenarios T-Foldables_PiP and
T-Foldables_Attachments

App supports various multitasking scenarios, for example:

  • Picture-in-picture mode: With the device folded and unfolded,app is able to enter and exit picture‑in‑picture mode in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi‑window mode. See Picture-in-picture (PiP) support.
  • Attachments: Messaging apps can open attachments (such as videos) in a separate window with the device folded and unfolded.
Foldables_PiP T-Foldables_PiP App supports interactive picture‑in‑picture functionality that enables custom controls and user interaction.
Foldables_Multi-Instance T-Foldables_Multi-Instance In folded and unfolded device states, the app is able to launch multiple instances of itself in separate windows. See Multi-instance in Support multi-window mode.

Tests

To verify that your app provides a differentiated experience on foldable devices, complete the following tests.

Foldable postures and states

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Foldables_Postures Foldables_Postures View the app in all foldable postures, including tabletop and book postures. Verify that UI elements transition to the optimal location (for example, media controllers move to the horizontal screen area in tabletop posture).
T-Foldables_Camera Foldables_Camera Activate the camera from within the app. Verify that the camera preview is correct when the device is folded and unfolded and rotated to portrait and landscape orientations. With the device unfolded, verify that the preview is correct on front and back screens.

Multitasking and multi-instance

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Foldables_PiP Foldables_Multitasking_Scenarios

With the device folded and unfolded, enter and exit picture‑in‑picture mode in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi‑window mode. In multi‑window mode, change the window size while picture‑in‑picture mode is active.

In picture-in-picture mode, interact with any custom controls and verify their functionality.
T-Foldables_Attachments Foldables_Multitasking_Scenarios With the device folded and unfolded, open and close attachments and notifications in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi‑window mode.
T-Foldables_Multi-Instance Foldables_Multi-Instance With the device folded and unfolded, launch multiple instances of the app in separate windows in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi‑window mode.