Apple may be preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone, according to a recent report by Macworld that says newly discovered code in the latest iOS 27 developer beta contains fresh references to a device with two internal batteries.

The fourth developer beta of iOS 27 includes new battery health strings referring to "the batteries in this iPhone", marking a departure from the singular wording used for all current iPhone models, which contain only one battery.

According to the report, one string states that "the batteries in this iPhone are performing as expected", while another refers to the health of "the batteries" and notes that one of them may not be a genuine Apple component.

No current iPhone model would trigger these messages, Macworld noted, suggesting Apple is preparing software support for hardware with a dual-battery design.

The findings add to growing speculation that Apple is developing a foldable iPhone. A dual-cell battery configuration is commonly used in book-style foldable smartphones, with one battery positioned on each side of the hinge to maximise internal space.

The latest discovery follows earlier references found in the first iOS 27 beta, which reportedly included code related to fold states and angle detection. Those features were interpreted as possible indications that Apple is preparing support for foldable displays.