The best apps for foldable phones are the ones that use the inner display for more than a stretched phone view, stay useful when you move between screens, and handle split-screen or partially folded use well. Good examples documented by Google include SideChef, LINE, Deezer, Google Weather, and Google Keep—but that documentation dates to 2023, not a 2026 comparative test. What works best on your device still depends on its model, software, region, and the app’s current release.
What makes an app good on a foldable?
A foldable can act like a phone when closed and a small tablet when open. Apps that make the change worthwhile tend to do one or more of the following:
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- Use the inner screen well: An unfolded app may show two useful panes at once, such as a list beside its selected item, rather than simply enlarging a narrow phone layout. Google says two-pane layouts can expose more content without extra taps or losing context: Android large-screen guidance.
- Preserve continuity: Moving between the cover and main display should not unexpectedly reset your place or discard text. Samsung’s developer checklist recommends preserving scroll position and entered text across screen changes: Samsung foldable app design guidance.
- Work alongside another app: Split-screen and resizable windows can make a recipe, note, call, or reference more useful when paired with another task. Android also supports drag and drop between apps on large screens, though individual apps determine how well these workflows work: Android guidance for large screens.
- Fit the device’s posture: On a flip phone, a useful cover-screen action can save opening the device. On a partially folded phone, an app may remain practical with the display propped up. Samsung lists Camera, YouTube, and Google Meet as Cover and Tent View examples, with compatibility varying by app: Samsung’s Galaxy foldable support guidance.
- Keep controls comfortable: Samsung advises supporting resizable apps and landscape layouts, and placing Flex-mode content above the fold with controls below it rather than putting interactive elements near the crease: Samsung foldable app design guidance.
Apps with documented large-screen layouts
Google’s 2023 overview described more than 50 Google apps as optimized for large screens, along with many other apps. That is a dated figure, not a current 2026 count, and the examples below are documented use cases—not a ranking or a guarantee that every current release looks or behaves the same on every foldable: Google’s 2023 large-screen app overview.
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SideChef for cooking alongside another task
Google showed SideChef displaying recipe instructions beside a timer or calculator in split screen, with the app resizing to fit. That makes it a useful example for cooks who want directions visible while keeping a second tool open. The source describes the layout in 2023; check the current app on your device for its present behavior.
#1 Best Overall
- BIGGER, YET SLIMMER THAN EVER: Who would’ve guessed that wider could also be lighter? The design of Galaxy Z Fold7 is refined to feel like a traditional smartphone with its expanded cover display.
- BEST CAMERA ON A FOLD YET: You asked for more – now you can have the most. Galaxy Z Fold7 now boasts an ultra-premium 200MP camera with Pro-Visual Engine so you can effortlessly take incredibly detailed pics.
- SCREENSHARE FOR STREAMLINED ASSISTANCE: Intrigued by something you see? Go Live with Google Gemini, then screenshare or point your camera at it for additional info or assistance on the fly.¹
- DO AND VIEW MORE, ALL AT ONCE: With an 8” screen that allows you to view up to three windows at once, Galaxy Z Fold7 is the ultimate device for seeing and doing more.²
- ALL THE POWER AND SPEED YOU NEED Smoothly run your day with the power and speed of Galaxy Z Fold7. With its customized Snapdragon 8 Elite processor for Galaxy, you can stream your favorite shows, edit photos, scroll social feeds and more with ease.³
LINE for messaging with a two-pane view
Google described LINE showing a chat list on one side and the selected conversation on the other when unfolded, while also transitioning between folded and unfolded screens. The two-pane approach can reduce back-and-forth between a conversation and the list.
Deezer for browsing music
Google’s example showed a two-pane Deezer layout exposing album art, lyrics, player controls, and sharing. Treat that as Google’s 2023 description rather than a promise about the current interface or availability on a particular foldable.
Google Weather for forecast detail
In Google’s example, the folded view showed a forecast on one screen; the unfolded layout paired a 10-day forecast with hourly, wind, and humidity details. This illustrates how a weather app can use the extra display for detail without requiring a separate navigation step.
Rank #2
- Connectivity Technology: NFC
- Operating System: Android 13.0
- Memory Storage Capacity: 512.0 GB
- Camera Description: Rear
- Battery Charge Time: 79.0 minutes
Google Keep for notes
Google described Keep with the notes list on the left and the selected note on the right, with an option to expand the list. That arrangement can make browsing and editing notes feel less like switching between separate screens.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which foldable features depend on the phone?
App quality is only part of the experience: manufacturer software determines how apps move between displays, share the screen, and respond to different postures. Do not assume that instructions for one foldable brand or model carry over to another.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip
Samsung says App Continuity works with select apps, and users can choose apps for full-screen behavior and continued use across displays. The compatible-app list may grow, but some apps may not fully support continuity. On supported Galaxy Z Fold models, Multi view gives certain apps—Samsung names Settings and Samsung Messages as examples—a dual-column layout. Multi window provides split-screen and pop-up views; Samsung says certain Z Fold models can handle as many as five apps at once, which is a model-specific capability rather than a general foldable-phone limit: Samsung Galaxy foldable features and support.
Rank #3
- Unfold extraordinary with Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold; with Pixel’s largest screen and Gemini, Google’s most advanced AI, it’s made for multitasking and entertainment[1]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Get a head start on syncing your data before it even arrives: After you purchase your new Pixel, look for an email that explains how to transfer your photos, videos, passwords, and more in just a few quick steps[14]
- The gearless, high-strength hinge makes it durable enough to handle about 10 years of folding[3]; plus, Pixel 10 Pro Fold is built with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance[4]
- The brighter-than-ever 8-inch Super Actua Flex display is Pixel’s largest screen yet[12]; and you can use Split Screen to plan a trip, drag and drop images, and open multiple apps at once[5]
Samsung also associates Camera, YouTube, and Google Meet with Cover and Tent Views. Its support guidance describes using Meet for video calls and Camera’s timer for selfies while the device is propped partially open: Samsung Galaxy foldable features and support and Samsung guidance for partially folded use.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Samsung’s support material contains an unresolved model-specific inconsistency: it says Flex Mode is not supported on Galaxy Z TriFold or Z Fold8, while also listing Z Fold8 among models for which the Flex mode panel is available. Do not rely on Z Fold8-specific Flex Mode expectations until Samsung clarifies the distinction. Flex Mode compatibility also varies by app.
Google Pixel Fold
Google’s Pixel Fold instructions cover running two apps at a time, launching an app from the taskbar into split screen, saving app pairs, and continuing to use apps when the device is folded: Google Pixel Fold multitasking and continuity help. These instructions are specifically for Pixel Fold; steps and availability should not be assumed to apply unchanged to other Android brands or every Pixel model.
Android’s large-screen baseline
Android supports split-screen and multi-window use on large-screen foldables; some devices also offer desktop windowing, with movable and resizable app windows. On Android 12 (API 31) and later, large screens default to multi-window mode regardless of an app’s configuration. That platform behavior does not by itself make an app adaptive: developers still need to build layouts and resizing behavior that work well on a larger display. Android also supports drag and drop between apps on large screens: Android large-screen app guidance.
Quick Recap
How to choose apps for your own foldable
- Start with the task. Pick an app for something you actually do—such as messaging, cooking, note-taking, music browsing, video calls, or photography—rather than choosing based on a foldable label alone.
- Open it on the inner screen. Check whether the added width reveals a second pane or useful controls, or merely stretches the phone view.
- Try your usual screen transition. If you move between the cover and inner display, check whether the app keeps your place and any unsent text.
- Test a real multitasking session. Open the app beside the tool or reference you use with it. On devices that offer drag and drop, check whether the apps exchange the information you need.
- Check the posture you will use. For a flip phone, see whether the cover screen has an action worth using. If you prop the phone partly open, check whether the app’s content and controls remain convenient.
- Verify behavior on your exact model. App releases, device software, region, and manufacturer features can change what is available. Official examples are useful starting points, not a universal compatibility list.
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