7 apps that still look terrible on foldables, and Google should call them out first

Foldable phones have been around since 2018/2019, when brands like Royole, Samsung, and HUAWEI debuted their first devices. Google eventually released Android 12L to deliver a better software experience on foldables, while also pushing developers to release optimized versions of their apps.

Apple has just released the iPhone Duo, and it’s clear that many developers haven’t optimized their apps for the form factor. But things aren’t perfect on Android foldables either, even after all this time. Don’t believe me? You only need to see these apps for proof.

1. Snapchat

Easily the worst-looking Android app on our list is Snapchat. Launch the app on the inner screen of a modern Android foldable and you’re greeted by gigantic borders on the left and right sides of your display. It’s like the company didn’t even try to implement a tablet UI, let alone a foldable UI.

It’s also disappointing to see that Snapchat doesn’t support portrait orientation on the inner screen. Then again, I’m old enough to remember when the company took years to deliver a decent Android app, so I’m not surprised at all.

2. Slack

Slack isn’t the worst-looking Android app on foldable phones, but it’s clear that this is little more than the phone app blown up. There is a ton of white space in the center and right-hand side of the app, while only the bottom tabs actually stretch across the screen. Even the PC app makes better use of a larger canvas, offering an adjustable two-pane view.

To be fair, Slack looks a lot better if you rotate the unfolded phone into portrait orientation. But you shouldn’t have to turn your foldable sideways just to avoid a sea of white space.

Slack’s implementation is particularly disappointing because the company had a well-optimized iPhone Duo app ready to go (see above). Slack on Apple’s foldable offers a two-pane view along with quick-access buttons on the right-hand side. No wasted white space here. But hey, the company only had the better part of a decade to develop an app for Android foldables.

3. Uber and Uber Eats

These two apps would greatly benefit from a foldable or tablet-style interface, showing a more expansive map view, more restaurants, and larger images. Instead, Uber and Uber Eats are very disappointing on my Galaxy Z Fold 8 review unit.

Both apps look just fine on the outer display, as you’d expect. Switch to the inner screen, though, and they adopt a sliver of an app window with huge borders on either side. At least the apps seamlessly transition between each screen.

4. Apple Music

Apple has just launched its first foldable phone, and the company has understandably updated many of its iOS apps to take advantage of the form factor. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for one of its most popular Android apps.

Apple Music on Android lacks a foldable UI, offering an increasingly familiar smartphone window with a ton of wasted space on either side. It’s a shame too as, much like other apps on the list, forcing a full-screen view via One UI actually delivers a solid interface.

Want to try it yourself? Unfold your Galaxy foldable, head to Settings > Apps > Apple Music > App aspect ratios, and choose Full screen. The option doesn’t show up on the cover screen, though. Alternatively, you can open Apple Music on the inner screen, then visit the recents menu and tap the aspect ratio icon in the bottom right-hand corner to resize the app.

5. Instagram

Instagram isn’t the worst offender on the list, as Meta’s app actually does attempt to cater to large screens. The homepage spans the entire inner display (albeit with plenty of white space), while the search page shows you plenty of results at once.

Unfortunately, the Reels page is basically a smartphone-style view, albeit with the main buttons still appearing on the left edge of the display and an algorithm button in the top-right corner. I can somewhat understand this awkward design, as Reels are often filmed/presented in portrait orientation. But even a comment pane or lateral swiping would’ve made better use of the space.

However, I thought the New Post page was a bigger issue, as this could’ve easily been blown up for a foldable screen. In fact, a larger canvas would allow for a less cramped editing process. I’m also not a fan of the inbox and message views, which offer copious amounts of white space and would’ve been better served with a two-pane view. Much like Slack, Instagram looks better if you hold the unfolded phone in portrait orientation, but that’s a workaround rather than a fix.

6. X

The app formerly known as Twitter isn’t terrible on foldable Android phones. It offers a large-screen UI on the inner display and seamlessly switches screens without issue. So why does it crack the list?

You only need to look at the crazy amount of wasted space in the screenshots to see that this UI could be so much better. If text and media occupied more of the white space on the left and right sides, we could view more content at once. We could also theoretically view more notifications at once too if X were smarter about using this wasted space. In fact, I really feel like a two-column layout would’ve been a fantastic inclusion on Android foldables.

7. Facebook

You’d think that Facebook would look great on a foldable Android phone. After all, the platform’s desktop roots mean Meta has plenty of experience with large screen UI design. Unfortunately, the company’s efforts fall well short of expectations.

Open Facebook on an Android foldable’s inner screen and the app will default to a portrait orientation view. Rotate your screen to landscape orientation, and you’re left with that annoyingly narrow app window (see the first image above).

You can indeed switch to a “full-screen” aspect ratio on Galaxy foldables, giving you a sliver of icons on the left edge of the screen and a few other shortcuts in the top right-hand corner. However, there’s so much wasted space, and I really feel like Meta could’ve offered a larger panel on the left to show birthdays, events, and more.

Google needs to call out the worst offenders

Thankfully, Google seems to be running out of patience too. Starting next year, the Play Store will evaluate how apps run on foldables, giving well-adapted apps more visibility and more prominent placement. Google says it will share the specific requirements later this year, but it hasn’t said whether apps that ignore foldables will face any penalties.

Rewarding the apps that get it right is a good start, but gentle nudges clearly haven’t worked so far. If Google wants developers like the ones above to take foldables seriously, it should be willing to call out the worst offenders in the Play Store, not just quietly promote everyone else.