Samsung reportedly working on adaptive ‘Split UI’ for Galaxy Fold 3

In what could be one of the company’s biggest upgrades to its software design for larger displays, the Galaxy Fold 3 could arrive with support for an ‘adaptive’ interface that is able to change based on the current display form or orientation.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 rumour has it, should be unveiled in July this year. The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 is shown in the picture above. (Samsung)

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Fold 3 is expected to be one of the first mainstream devices to ditch physical buttons, but a new report suggests that the South Korean company could be preparing another major change that could feature on the new device in the form of a ‘Split UI' to allow for better use of the large display.

In what could be one of the company's biggest upgrades to its software design for larger displays, the Galaxy Fold 3 could arrive with support for an ‘adaptive' interface that is able to change based on the current display form or orientation, according to Samsung feature leaker Ice Universe.

The leaker has shared a few animated GIF images that represent a mockup of sorts, to show how certain apps could quickly adapt to Samsung's rumoured “Split UI”, as spotted by MSPoweruser. They show the apps expanding, showing additional information, hiding elements as the device screen is presumably opened or rotated.

We may be able to see the new adaptive UI on Fold3: Split UI pic.twitter.com/gCARLGjJUI

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 23, 2021

2 pic.twitter.com/Tnt4rvLKMm

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 23, 2021

3 pic.twitter.com/KY6QROLhmN

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 23, 2021

Ice Universe has shared three examples so far, the first being a messaging app that shows an adaptive messages list and chats layout on either half of the screen, which also allows for more room for previews. The second example is simpler, showing how the preview screen to edit Samsung's AR emoji can move and adapt on the screen to show more details as the screen is expanded. The last example is a generic video player that shows the additional space being used to show comments, upcoming videos and other details as the screen is modified.

While this is far from Samsung's first foldable device, the company appears to be working on a way for its devices to be able to make use of the extra screen real estate that is available after the foldable is opened. While the adaptive interface should work across all of Samsung's app's we do not know whether third-party apps will add in support for the feature, which could come in very handy for apps like YouTube or photo editing apps that could make use of the additional screen space.