Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Foldable iPad Now in 'Intensive Development,' Could Be Announced as Soon as Next Year
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Very simple: iPhone roughly "as is" has a God (of tech)-like hold on fan minds. Do not mess with perfection (particularly if the new form factor is not for sale BY APPLE right now).
iPad is not quite as elevated, so it can be folded, rolled, offered in a circle or triangular shape in rumors and that is somewhat acceptable because there are plenty of existing "as is" models available and it is not quite God of tech.
However, depending on the size, an iPad (Mini) that folds down or an iPhone that folds up could- in fact- be the very same product. One concept is simply more imagination palatable than the other.
Step back in time when Apple was offering and claiming 3.5" was the 'perfect' screen size for phones... and this crowd overwhelmingly agreed... ridiculing bigger screens to no end. Then, Apple evolved 'perfect' to 4" and this crowd evolved their perception of perfect right with Apple... still thoroughly ridiculing anything bigger than 4": "one handed use", "pants with bigger pockets", "man purses", developer fragmentation, "abominations", etc.
Then, Apple went phablet and its as if years of accumulated anti-phablet posts were never written, immediately replaced with "shut up and take my money" and "how did we ever get by with those puny screens?" Flash forward and anyone who dares to post interest in a formerly "perfect" size smaller than the iPhone lineup today will get ridiculed and told 200 times that "nobody wants..." smaller screen phones. Apparently all hands grew everywhere for one-handed use but I'm still not seeing these pants with bigger pockets or man purses.
A foldable or rollable phone is likely only abhorrent until Apple 'rolls' one out... like USB-C in iPhone was just abhorrent right up until Apple actually went there. I'm still looking for these mountains of lint balls and a thousand pop up USB-C repair shops to fix all the broken tongues and wobbly ports. Where did all that lint go?
Longer story short: "we" detest it until Apple offers it.. and then we love it. Many very passionate opinions flip flop in support of whatever Apple has for sale now. This will be no different.
Last edited:
So this is why apple keeps ipad lineup despite itself being pretty niche: new tech testing ground.
It has to be. I dont expect it to happen otherwise.
Plus no nfc.
With the same thickness, when folded, as an iPad Pro. Anything thicker and I’ll fail to understand the concept of a folding tablet.More interest in a phone that turns into an iPad
I don't get this either. I just cannot find any use case for an iPad..I've tried many times. Owned the first mini, sold it. Second mini with cell service, sold it. First iPad Pro, gave it to my sister. Most recently an Air, which I gave to my niece.
I guess it's just because I don't consume content on the go. I don't watch video/streaming on anything other my tv, I read on my kindle paperwhite, and my phone is enough for news.
My MacBook Air isn't much bigger than a iPad pro and is just as portable, but infinitely more useful than iPadOS.
🤷🏻♂️
Apple sells those right now, happiness awaits you.
The idea of a pocketable iPad Mini is pretty interesting. And unlike the iPhone Pro Max, you’d actually be able to use it for productivity because it would run iPadOS and have better multitasking than iPhone.
iPad mini sized unfolded, iPhone sized folded? 120Hz? Apple Pencil? Eeeeeeek yes pls
You don't want either.
Go find somebody who has had one of the Samsung foldables for a month. Look at the screen damage.
Foldable is NOT a workable screen technology right now, and won't be unless there are serious changes in materials science.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Your many solid, sound & logical facts from an actual happy experience with a foldable cannot be "computed" by most of this crowd until Apple actually offers one. Then, there will be mass agreement with the points you are making. Until then, you are obviously misled or brainwashed, led astray by a wayward pile of abomination tech that can't possibly be good for anyone.
We still think we can save you. Come back towards the light. Enter the walled garden where all is perfect in every way and anything different is an abomination. Don't "think different" unless those differences align with exactly what one Corp has for sale now. That's the limit of "different" in that phrase. Don't have imagination beyond that boundary.
Last edited:
I have a Lenovo X1 Fold (folding tablet) and it has some issues I think Apple could fix. I would totally be interested in a folding iPad.
The Fold is too thick/heavy. It gets hot at times, needing the fan to come on. M-series doesn't get as hot as an i5, so the fans could be removed entirely. Windows Hello sucks, FaceID would easily trample that. General UI flow issues where iOS would do much better than Windows 11. For those who say the crease will be noticeable, it's really not bad at all.
The retail price of a folding iPad will be high, but it could be an interesting thought.
The Fold is too thick/heavy. It gets hot at times, needing the fan to come on. M-series doesn't get as hot as an i5, so the fans could be removed entirely. Windows Hello sucks, FaceID would easily trample that. General UI flow issues where iOS would do much better than Windows 11. For those who say the crease will be noticeable, it's really not bad at all.
The retail price of a folding iPad will be high, but it could be an interesting thought.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
My iPad Mini already doubles as my iPhone too. A direct benefit of it becoming foldable is the very tangible & desirable "pocketability" benefit of iPhone. As is, it fits suit, coat or cargo pockets, but typically occupies a hand or is tucked under an arm.
I'd be enormously interested in a foldable (or rollable or maybe even virtual) Mini.
You may not "want to spend a lot" for a foldable iPad... particularly if you carry phone + iPad. But core to the idea of foldable is that ONE device can cover BOTH jobs. My iPad is my phone (buds for calls). It's already one device. But it's not broadly pocketable.
If people can imagine also using iPad as phone- which is not much different than using iPhone as a map or flashlight or a tape measure (there's many apps for that: VOIP apps)- then you can purchase a single device for much less than buying two and carry the weight of a single device to do both jobs. Those who can't imagine it may need to see it... from Apple of course. And even some of them may still prefer a skinny brick and a separate slab than one that can be both... and that's perfectly fine: to each his own.
iPhone was rolled out as an iPod + phone + Internet in ONE device. iPad/iPhone FOLD could be rolled out as an iPhone + iPad in ONE device.
Last edited:
Mac hardware runs iPadOS now (or close enough and anyway, ditching macOS is what Apple wants)
I don't want a foldable anything if you have to open it up to use it.
But it is difficult to see how that can be avoided unless there is at least some extra screen on the outside.
I don't want a foldable anything if it has a crease down the screen (as the ones I've seen in shops have).
However, I might accept a very fine line visible even when using the device.
My, "I don't see how you do it but..." device would be like an existing phone or iPad. With what looks like a clear glass flap that can unfold. In folded use, you see straight through the flap. In unfolded use, the flap is an extension to the screen.
I can see the attraction of the Samsung flip models - but they are quite thick. And have a crease.
But it is difficult to see how that can be avoided unless there is at least some extra screen on the outside.
I don't want a foldable anything if it has a crease down the screen (as the ones I've seen in shops have).
However, I might accept a very fine line visible even when using the device.
My, "I don't see how you do it but..." device would be like an existing phone or iPad. With what looks like a clear glass flap that can unfold. In folded use, you see straight through the flap. In unfolded use, the flap is an extension to the screen.
I can see the attraction of the Samsung flip models - but they are quite thick. And have a crease.
Yes, I completely understand. It is just sad to me that folks out there won't at least give another company a chance. You can always return the foldable for a full refund and go back to iPhone. I'm the first to tell you that Android was complete trash 5 years ago. Since 2021 when I made the move to my first foldable, Android is now less buggy than iOS in my use case. I have no reason to make this up. Apple's integration with other Apple products is still better but Google is making some solid progress. I just wish Apple would release a foldable iPhone so people could enjoy them, and I know they would!Your many solid, sound & logical facts from an actual happy experience with a foldable cannot be "computed" by most of this crowd until Apple actually offers one. Then, there will be mass agreement with the points you are making. Until then, you are obviously misled or brainwashed, led astray by a wayward pile of abomination tech that can't possibly be good for anyone.
I remember fighting with people on this very forum in 2006 before the iPhone came out - to most it was abhorrent to combine a phone and a iPod...until it was released...Very simple: iPhone roughly "as is" has a God (of tech)-like hold on fan minds. Do not mess with perfection (particular if the new form factor is not for sale right now).
iPad is not quite as elevated, so it can be folded, rolled, offered in a circle or triangular shape in rumors and that is somewhat acceptable because there are plenty of existing "as is" models available and it is not quite God of tech.
However, depending on the size, an iPad (Mini) that folds down or an iPhone that folds up could- in fact- be the very same product. One concept is simply more imagination palatable than the other.
Step back in time when Apple was offering and claiming 3.5" was the 'perfect' screen size for phones... and this crowd overwhelmingly agreed... ridiculing bigger screens to no end. Then, Apple evolved 'perfect' to 4" and this crowd evolved their perception of perfect right with Apple... still thoroughly ridiculing anything bigger than 4": "one handed use", "pants with bigger pockets", "man purses", developer fragmentation, "abominations", etc.
Then, Apple went phablet and its as if years of accumulated anti-phablet posts were never written, immediately replaced with "shut up and take my money" and "how did we ever get by with those puny screens?" Flash forward and anyone who dares to post interest in a formerly "perfect" size smaller than the iPhone lineup today will get ridiculed and told 200 times that "nobody wants..." smaller screen phones. Apparently all hands grew everywhere for one-handed use but I'm still not seeing these pants with bigger pockets or man purses.
A foldable or rollable phone is likely only abhorrent until Apple 'rolls' one out... like USB-C in iPhone was just abhorrent right up until Apple actually went there. I'm still looking for these mountains of lint balls and a thousand pop up USB-C repair shops to fix all the broken tongues and wobbly ports. Where did all that lint go?
Longer story short: "we" detest it until Apple offers it.. and then we love it. Many very passionate opinions flip flop in support of whatever Apple has for sale now. This will be no different.
Plus ça change
Buah ha ha! You're joking right? I'm not strapping that thing to my head all day long and I certainly wouldn't be seen in public wearing one.
We’re so happy that our customers no longer need to buy two different devices and we think they’re going to be pleased as well.
Why? That sounds awful. That’s an even worse idea than foldable phones.
About time.
But where are all the people that were laughing at Samsung for pushing for foldables hard?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
But where are all the people that were laughing at Samsung for pushing for foldables hard?
Yeah, that's what I thought.