Apple to Launch Foldable As Early As 2026 That Could Ultimately Replace iPad Mini

[JippaLippa]

If it comes out in 2026, it'll have to be perfect.

 

[Student of Life]

Rollable devices definitely seem that the best way to avoid the hinge / creasing issues

I love this idea and concept. When the tech is right im sure Apple will bring this out. The only question I have is how would one put a case on a phone like this, or would it just be bare?

 

[iMattPro]

How long before EU mandates every mobile smart device must be foldable?

 

[iMattPro]

Again I have to ask, do people really want this?

Foldables do seem to be getting better as the money is spent advancing the tech, but from what I've seen, they still leave a lot to be desired and offer no significant advantage for their substantial increase in price. Are there really people clamouring for foldables that the market is even there for this?

They're a gimmick. A solution looking for a problem. LG developed foldable/bendable display panels and really want devices to use them, and are struggling to figure out actual use cases for them (like the LG TV that rolls up).

And now we got Samsung making semi transparent screens (currently in a concept TV that sucks), so expect a push to put that into mobile devices soon too.

One day we'll have a ton of non-Apple mobile devices that are transparent foldables that are low fidelity, hard to view, and impractical to use. Yet there will be some people clamoring for that too.

 

[lazyrighteye]

I'd like to see one of the "rollable" devices come to fruition, but even more than the concepts that have come out so far.

Something "medium phone" size as a phone - then you roll it out, and what was the long side becomes the short side of a tablet-size device. Of course, keeping rigidity/stiffness in that would be nigh-impossible.

Rollable is where I always thought Apple would head as well. No crease.

 

[JapanApple]

First Foldable iPhone then the mini iPad foldable

 

[pdoherty]

Don't want the hassles, complications and weak/failure points that come with foldable devices. If they ever get to where they're foolproof and 100% as reliable as a rectangle device, OK, but until they seem like more of a gimmick than an actual useful product category.

 

[apparatchik]

Maybe because some of us are actually girls, that face this struggle on a day to day basis? IDK, roughly 50% of the worlds population, but what does that matter on this tech nerd website anyways 🙃

Yep, sorry if it sounded disconnected in any way, anecdotical because yes I'm not a girl but I've seen women taking more issue with clothing brands for designing too small (and fake) pockets on women's cloth and at the same time I also see more women choosing larger phone sizes (maybe cause they end up carrying them on their purses anyways?). I have no statistics, I have large hands and I loved the iPhone mini size while I've seen ladies sporting the larger phones in existence. I really don't see a foldable phone ala Galaxy Flip making much of a difference but I could be wrong of course.

 

[4743913]

Don't want the hassles, complications and weak/failure points that come with foldable devices. If they ever get to where they're foolproof and 100% as reliable as a rectangle device, OK, but until they seem like more of a gimmick than an actual useful product category.

I am sure apple will add $200 to the cost of applecare so you don't have to worry about that.

 

[seggy]

we heard this foldable that will launch ..since 2018, it will launch in 2024, no, in 2025, no now its 2026...come on
At this early stage, its at most a prototype and we all know that many apples prototypes dont see the light of the day...hey even announced products like their pad wireless charging didnt see the light
When we will start hearing rumours about foldable to be release "next year" then we are into something, but not with 3-4 years in advance

It actually tracks.

Hololens released: 2016
Apple makes it idiot friendly: 2023

Fold and Duo released: 2019-2020
Ditto: Take a guess

Foldables going mainstream isn't an entirely terrible idea imo

 

[MrMojo1]

With all the rumours over the years about a possible foldable Apple devices, it's like 'whatever' whenever news about them appear.
Can understand the foldable replacing the mini tablet though as it makes more sense than having the foldable as a smartphone.
Let's wait & see what actually happens when it happens.

 

[bgillander]

I don‘t get the hype around foldable phones. I’m perfectly fine with the slab design, and to me it represents a pinnacle in smartphone engineering. I’ve been told that the smartphone will be supplanted by VR/AR headsets or — even more bizarre — smart pins that people stick to their chest and speak to. But what if we’ve already reached the ultimate form factor? No doubt that our phones will continue to evolve, but I’d be willing to wager that even 50 years from now humans will be using phones that are quite similar in form factor as what we have now. 👍

This form factor that came out 17 years ago with a 3.5” screen and is supposed to be as large as 6.9” this year? Sure, that trajectory seems predictably sustainable for 50 more years. After all, things never change in tech.

 

[bgillander]

I wasn’t talking about cell capability in any way but of form factor. iPad’s have cellular and depending on carrier they even support phone calls. The fact you can make calls wasn’t relevant in my argument.

I meant that most foldable “phones” on sell atm are actually foldable android tablets, as in what you’re getting is a, say, 7” tablet that you fold in half. Regardless if it replaces your phone or not. Some people have replaced their phones with iPad Mini’s, but this is beyond my point.

A foldable phone (Galaxy Flip) makes little sense to me as you’re not getting anything more than a “cool” phone. A foldable tablet (Galaxy Fold or the device rumored in this article) on the other hand it’s a lot more interesting.

So you define a phone by which side the fold is on. I get what you are saying, but being old enough to have used and loved a StarTAC, if they ever get to the point where the foldable technology is literally bulletproof solid, a cheap full screen flip phone would probably sell far better than you can imagine. But with the current relatively flimsy and expensive technology, I agree that a tablet sized form factor is pretty much required, if only to justify the extra expense of the screen.

 

[bgillander]

I’ll take that bet mostly on a very simple consideration: what was the form factor of a phone 50 years ago (1974)?

Your personal phone (which was actually shared by all who lived with you) was a relatively big box on which a corded handset sat until a call was to be made or received. A “mobile” phone involved getting inside of a glass chamber, using a similar-but-larger big box + corded handset (shared with huge numbers of total strangers for upwards of MANY years)… and having to insert coins each time you used it… and again when using it for longer than a few minutes.

And “texting” involved visiting a telegram office… and paying for each “text”… then waiting sometimes lengthy amounts of time for a reply. The exchange of “what R U doing?” And “Nothing, you?” could easily take a full day or two... if not longer... and cost around $12.95 each way... if not more.

In 50 years, I suspect the current slab will seem as antiquated as phones of 50 years ago. The not-born-yet will ridicule the old bricks grandpa used to have to carry around and ask grandpa how he ever got by with such a thing.

At least Mannix and Cannon had car phones in 1974! The Apple computers of 1974 were nothing like those of today!

 

[VaruLV]

Knowing Apples pricing strategy, this will never replace iPad Mini.

 

[macduke]

When considering probable trade-offs, I doubt I will get one. To start, Apple's pricing will be insane. Then you have a worse camera (less depth for a larger sensor and telephoto lenses), worse battery life, and a less durable and less water resistant enclosure.

Honestly, the more I think about it, the less I need it. Especially because I work from home. I'm at home so much, that what do I need a two-in-one for? I'm not commuting on a train. I'm not waiting around anywhere most of the time, I'm eating lunch at home. I'm just somebody's dad now, so it's not like I'm going out downtown in the evening.

Honestly an Apple Vision Pro makes more sense for me, and I barely even see the point in that at the moment.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

With today's borderless technology in displays, a foldable phone with 2 displays makes more sense. When unfolded, you have a large display without any loss of pixels or lines. plus; You can then use a smaller display on the outside of the folded phone, which requires very little energy.

Rollable displays are probably not mature enough yet, but the 2 display fold we have now isn’t ideal imo. You are basically dedicating a big portion of the phone’s weight and volume to something that will never be in use at the same time.

 

[DarthDon]

Anyone can fold their iPad - at least once...

 

[Realityck]

Even if this never shows it still interesting to look at the current devices and prototypes with foldable technology

 

[DarthDon]

Rollable displays are probably not mature enough yet, but the 2 display fold we have now isn’t ideal imo. You are basically dedicating a big portion of the phone’s weight and volume to something that will never be in use at the same time.

I think it's more about the size of the transport. Imagine if you could just fold your Ipad half the size. It doesn't get any lighter, but it just fits better everywhere. As far as the display is concerned, take a look at the Microsoft phones, which are very good. If there were iOS on it, I'd already have one ;-).

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I think it's more about the size of the transport. Imagine if you could just fold your Ipad half the size. It doesn't get any lighter, but it just fits better everywhere. As far as the display is concerned, take a look at the Microsoft phones, which are very good. If there were iOS on it, I'd already have one ;-).

I’d love to get one when foldables matures more, but ideally it would be an outward fold or a rollable so there would be no need for a cover display, which they can’t do without sacrificing durability at the moment.

The Duos were a pretty promising form factor, but it’s going to be a trade off between folding flat (Duo 1) or having a better camera (Duo 2). It also had the issue of a big gap between the two displays which makes watching videos and such unrealistic.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Oh god

Does this mean we won't get an iPad Mini update in the meantime?

😑

 

[DarthDon]

Oh god

Does this mean we won't get an iPad Mini update in the meantime?

😑

as usual...

 

[turbineseaplane]

Just fix the Mini 6 crappy display in a Mini 7 so I don't get a headache every time I look at it. I would then finally consider replacing my aging Mini 5 (which has a sharp, wonderful display, BTW).

^^ This

Apple, please don't overthink this
Just update the Mini line as is for now --- please!??

 

[turbineseaplane]

iPad Mini Users: "Can we please just have a better screen?"

Apple: "Foldable iPad Mini replacement coming in two more years!"

😠😣