September 17, 2024, 8:10 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Apple apparently has unique plans for a new iPad model that will be completely different from all of the manufacturer’s previous tablets. According to reports, a foldable model, an iPad Fold, is planned. TECHBOOK reveals what is known about it so far.
So-called foldables, devices with flexible screens that can be folded, are already available from various manufacturers in different designs. Foldable smartphones, which can be folded vertically like a book or horizontally like a classic flip phone, are especially popular. Apple is also said to be working on such an iPhone Fold. But that’s not all. An iPad Fold may also be in the works, though its release is likely some time away.
Overview
When could the iPad Fold be coming?
The popularity of foldable gadgets is on the rise. Despite initial skepticism that the trend might not catch on, an increasing number of prominent tech companies are now unveiling foldable devices. These include major manufacturers such as Samsung, Google, Motorola and Oppo. Speculation has been mounting since early 2023 that Apple might enter the market with its own foldable device. At that time, for example, MacRumors insiders, citing the Taiwanese newspaper Digitimes, reported that the Cupertino-based company was working intensively on the development of a foldable iPad. At the time, the reports assumed that the iPad Fold would be released at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.
However, a recent post by well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo puts this date in the distant future. Sources indicate that Apple has had to postpone the start of mass production significantly due to technical challenges with the display and mechanics. This was originally scheduled to start in the first half of 2026, but production is now not expected to start until the end of 2027 or 2028.
Foldable MacBook or iPad? What does the device look like?
Kuo’s post also brings some confusion as to what kind of foldable Apple is actually working on. Some refer to it as a Foldable MacBook, others as an iPad Fold. It could, therefore, well be that it is a kind of hybrid. Since the launch of the current iPad Pro with the M4 chip in May 2024, many have increasingly seen the iPad as a replacement for the classic Mac. The tablet’s performance is now at an exceptionally high level. Moreover, hybrid devices have been a part of the laptop landscape for some time. Foldable laptops with touchscreens have been around for years.
According to Kuo, Apple was originally working on a model with a 20.25-inch display – this is apparently the “unfolded” size; the device would therefore be more compact when folded. Current indications suggest that Apple has opted for a smaller display diagonal of 18.8 inches.
But what exactly does the iPad Fold look like? The first concept images were already available at the end of 2023 based on the rumors at the time. These images should be viewed as creative interpretations and do not represent any official concept from Apple.
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Foldable housing poses problems for Apple
The development of a foldable tablet is apparently not without its problems for Apple. On the one hand, Kuo’s report clearly addresses the technical challenges associated with the display and the mechanics. On the other hand, the Digitimes report in October 2023 already indicated that Apple had been working on the design of the foldable iPad for over four years and was still not finished. The article suggests that the display, panel, hinges, and other components are presenting challenges.
Apple is said to be hoping for support from Samsung and LG, among others, for the displays. As of now, further technical details remain undisclosed. Pricing information is also currently unavailable.