Google Play Store Update Will Highlight Apps Built for Foldables and Tablets

You have a foldable, or a tablet, and both come with more screen real estate. For years, Android has struggled to deliver a consistent experience on larger displays. Even with improvements like Android 12L, many apps still default to phone-sized interfaces. All of that results in a subpar user experience, to say the least.

Play Store v51.2 brings better visibility for large-screen optimized apps

Thankfully, that’s changing. As spotted by folks at Android Authority, Google is preparing a notable update to the Play Store that will make it easier for users to identify apps optimized for larger screens. The upcoming Play Store v51.2 introduces a visible badge highlighting apps designed to properly scale across tablets and foldables. It’ll fix the long-standing frustration with stretched or poorly adapted phone layouts.

The new badge system aims to solve that problem by clearly labeling apps that take advantage of larger screens. Instead of digging through screenshots or descriptions, users will be able to instantly see whether an app fully utilizes their device’s display.

Beyond usability, the move may also influence developers. Increased visibility for optimized apps could encourage more developers to redesign their software for tablets and foldables. This aligns with Google’s broader push to improve large-screen experiences, especially as new device categories continue to gain traction in the Android ecosystem.

The update also brings a few smaller tweaks, like better content rating views, easier access to subscriptions from reviews, and some changes to how installs work. The rollout hasn’t started yet, but it’s a clear sign Google is taking big-screen Android more seriously.

We’ll likely hear more about these changes at Google I/O next month. In fact, the foldable market is expected to grow significantly in 2026, according to Counterpoint. If anything, that makes these updates feel inevitable.