Plurality in iOS 27 beta code may not be iPhone Fold hints

Code references in the iOS 27 developer betas mention an iPhone using multiple batteries. This could be related to the iPhone Fold, but it may have a more pedestrian explanation.

The occasional reference leaks in Apple’s beta operating systems often hint to future features that are on the way. For inbound devices like the iPhone Fold, they can sometimes point to big changes in the design.

According to an examination of the just-released fourth developer beta of iOS 27, MacWorld believes this is a sign that an iPhone with multiple internal batteries is on the way.

The code strings specifically say “The batteries in this iPhone are performing as expected.” Another states “The health of the batteries in this iPhone has significantly degraded.”

There’s also a mention of how “one of the batteries” isn’t a genuine Apple component.

The report highlights the use of plurals in the strings, meaning that multiple batteries are being discussed. Based on these strings alone, it’s entirely possible that they are for two internal batteries in a device.

Stepping back from the hype for a moment, the text may also refer to other situations where multiple batteries are in use. For example, the use of external MagSafe batteries, which basically adds a second battery to a single-battery iPhone.

Folding power

If we take the verbiage as factual, the most probable device that could use two batteries would be the iPhone Fold.

As a folding smartphone, it would use two halves of a body, joined together by the display, wiring, and a hinge. The problem is working out where to place the battery.

If it’s a single cell, the battery would have to be located in one of the two halves of the unit. This would be impractical, partly because most of the weight of the device would be on one side, as well as reducing the potential battery life.

A dual-battery arrangement would maintain battery life, as well as keeping the iPhone Fold balanced. One side would not weigh that much more than the other.

This is also not the first time we have heard of the iPhone Fold using multiple batteries. On July 10, a leaker proposed that there would be two cells in use, “3D Stacked” to get a capacity of around 5,000mAh.

At the time, it was also reasoned that there could be two batteries in use to maximize the available power.

It also wouldn’t be Apple’s first use of dual batteries in an iPhone. The iPhone X was shown in a 2017 teardown to have dual batteries in one body.