Apple is apparently working on a new feature for iPhones: When you connect an iPhone to an external display via USB-C, a new, Stage Manager-like user interface will be activated. The feature is expected to arrive with iOS 19. At first glance, the idea seems like an extension for a small target group—users who connect their iPhone to an external display. But there are indications that Apple is actually preparing something else.
There's likely a larger goal behind this seemingly unspectacular change to iOS 19: Apple wants to bring true multitasking to the iPhone. More specifically, to the iPhone Fold. The first foldable iPhone is scheduled to launch next year. And that requires a new iOS interface that can handle larger displays. The Stage Manager feature in iOS 19 could therefore be a test run.
iOS 19 lays the foundation for true multitasking on the iPhone
Reports suggest that Apple plans to introduce a system with iOS 19 reminiscent of Stage Manager on the iPad. Connecting your iPhone to an external display via USB-C will reveal an expanded user interface that offers more multitasking options. Windows can be moved and multiple apps can be displayed simultaneously – something previously only seen on the iPad or Mac. What's striking is that this feature is aimed at a very small target audience. Very few iPhone users even connect their device to a display. So why should Apple invest so much development effort in a feature that hardly anyone uses?
The iPhone Fold needs a different iOS
The more plausible explanation: Apple is using iOS 19 to test a new multitasking interface that's actually intended for a completely different device. The foldable iPhone, which has likely been in development internally for some time, is expected to launch in 2026. It will have a 7.8-inch internal display—making it almost as large as the iPad mini, which used to measure 7.9 inches. The current generation iPad mini measures 8.3 inches. The iPhone Fold will fold like a regular iPhone, but unfolded it will look more like a small iPad. That's precisely why iOS has to keep pace. Users expect a different experience on a larger display: multitasking, multiple apps side by side, and freely movable windows.
Why Apple starts early
If Apple is already introducing the first multitasking elements with iOS 19, it's probably because they want to test the system early. Starting a year before the iPhone Fold launches gives them time to evaluate user feedback, fix bugs, and refine the overall concept. Apple obviously wants to avoid an immature multitasking system launching at the same time as the new device. So, the Stage Manager-like interface in iOS 19 is unlikely to be limited to external displays. It's much more likely that it will be available directly on the iPhone Fold later.
What exactly could that look like?
Details are currently unclear. There's no confirmation from Apple. But if the iPhone Fold's internal display does indeed measure nearly 8 inches and has a similar aspect ratio to the iPad mini, the user interface will adopt many elements you already know from the iPad. Possible options include Split View, Slide Over, or even a full-fledged Stage Manager.
iOS 19 as a test field for the iPhone Fold
iOS 19 brings new multitasking features to the iPhone – officially only when connected to external displays. But there's likely more to this feature: Apple is using it to test the framework for the upcoming iPhone Fold. A device that, with a larger display, places new demands on the operating system. If all goes as planned, iOS 19 will be the first building block for a new iPhone experience with true multitasking. And the foldable iPhone is closer than many think. Time for new accessories? Visit our Amazon Storefront and discover a wide selection of products from leading manufacturers, including HomeKit! (Image: Shutterstock / Kaspars Grinvalds)
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