Apple is working on a gadget that may become “its next breakthrough device”. According to a report, the tech giant is developing a foldable device akin to a giant iPad that unfolds to the size of two iPad Pros placed side-by-side.
Citing sources, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that Apple has been working on this project for a couple of years and aims to launch it around 2028.
Why this foldable devices is taking long
A key focus for Apple’s foldable is eliminating the visible crease that plagues current foldable devices when unfolded, Gurman said, adding that prototypes within Apple’s industrial design group reportedly have a nearly invisible crease.
But it remains to be seen if they can completely eliminate it. Even Samsung, a pioneer in foldable phones, has struggled to overcome this design challenge, he noted.
“Right now, Apple’s largest iPad tops out at 13 inches. Apple knows that customers — gamers, software developers or just people watching movies — want the biggest screen possible. And the only way to sensibly ship a mobile product with a large display (one approaching 20 inches or so) is to make it foldable. Otherwise, it’s too hard to throw into a purse or backpack,” he said.
Apple is not the first company to try a ‘large’ foldable device
While Apple’s foldable iPad concept might seem novel, other companies have explored similar ideas in the past. Microsoft experimented with dual-screen devices like the Courier and Neo, but ultimately abandoned these projects due to lack of consumer interest.
Lenovo also ventured into this territory with its Yoga Book 9i, featuring two 13.3-inch OLED screens connected by a hinge. However, Apple’s approach differs significantly as it aims for a single sheet of glass that folds, eliminating the visible seam between screens.
As per Gurman, achieving this likely comes at a cost, with Apple’s foldable expected to be priced significantly higher than Lenovo’s offering which was priced at around $2,000.
“It’s not yet clear what operating system the Apple computer will run, but my guess is that it will be iPadOS or a variant of it,” Gurman added.
Apple’s foldable devices’ launch timeline
The device, which is not expected to be a true iPad-Mac hybrid, will have elements of both as in 2028, iPadOS is said to be advanced enough to run macOS apps. Gurman said that Apple is also “exploring the idea” of a foldable iPhone that may be launched in 2026 “at the earliest.”
Apple is expected to switch to OLED screens on MacBook Pro in 2026, with the MacBook Air following in 2027.
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