Foldable iPad Now in 'Intensive Development,' Could Be Announced as Soon as Next Year

[jclardy]

I think Apple would have to come up with some genuine use cases to sell people on this. The idea sounds cool at first...but if you have an 11" iPad and fold it lengthwise...you still can't fit it in your pocket. Other direction is the same issue. You still need a bag to carry it around in. And likely you'll still want a keyboard case, so that'll be another $500 for the new magic folding keyboard that Apple comes up with.

I guess there are a few interesting things, like reading a book would be nice, but really not that different of an experience from reading on a flat display.

 

[VampyricGentleman]

I’ll be honest folding products are no more interest than the VR/AR headset. Both are niche markets in my view. I am happy with the size of the phone I carry and without it having to fold I wouldn’t mind a bigger screen iPad than the Pro 12.9. I’d certainly have uses for that, but again niche market.

 

[satchmo]

I’d love to see a foldable iPhone.

But I’m not sure Samsung would be able to manufacture enough foldable displays for Apple to sell.

 

[icanhazmac]

Can I have a HomePod that folds down into a Mini? /s

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

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!

You may be asking too much of Apple fans to give another COMPANY a try... but a crowd who is quick to claim they are "think different" to their core should illustrate that with more objectively in such thoughts. Presumably, imagination is key to "thinking different" which should be able to imagine beyond the "as is" offered by a single company.

I'm an Apple everything guy but I can easily appreciate features and products NOT available from Apple... even wish Apple would roll out their version of some such stuff. I easily see a great benefit of a fold or roll or virtual iPad/iPhone... a very big & obvious "problem" that it could solve for ME.

When the famous Mac launch commercial rolled out, I think many fans identified with different characters than they do now.

In 2023, who does the woman represent? Who are the lemmings in the crowd? And who are those people on the screen?

In 1984, I believe the collective answers to those questions would be very different than they've been in the last 10 years or so.

In a topic like this one, we all should perhaps re-think our definition of "different" in "think different."

 

[iLuddite]

Only $4999! We think our shareholders are gonna love it!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Except the fact you need to use an iPhone with said iPad Mini because Apple software restricts it from acting as a phone since if it could be used as one it would cannibalize iPhone sales.

I'm just going to assume you are misinformed with that post because otherwise it's an outright lie or misdirection. ANY iPad can be a phone today- even wifi ones- with a VOIP app. Anyone doubting that can download a free VOIP app to any iPad right now and call & text themselves to their iPhone today. It "just works" fine.

Even Mac can become a phone with VOIP app. I was making/receiving calls to phones from G4 laptops way back in the early 2000s. Telephony is not a big complicated thing. Someone still got a functional iPod Touch with a VOIP app? If so, IT is a phone too.

For wifi anything, obviously you need a wifi connection. However, cellular iPads will connect from anywhere iPhone can connect to the very same 5G, LTE, etc.

I definitely have no iPhone and a cellular iPad Mini with VOIP app is a highly effective phone + texting device over 5G. I've been (also) using iPad mini as a phone since Mini 2. No problems at all for me.

And it's not held up to an ear like the picture (though it could be if someone wanted to do that). Instead, I use buds with mic just like many people do with their iPhone when they also want simultaneous access to the screen.

It all works just fine for my telphony needs. And- IMO- all other apps are better on the additional screen R.E.

 

[Bodhitree]

To be honest I hardly ever travel with my iPad. For me it’s a on-the-couch or in bed kind of device, which makes being able to fold it somewhat pointless.

 

[blcamp]

Help me out here… you own a iPhone and iPad, yet… you claim it seeks to solve problems that don’t really exist?

Well, that‘s the point of a foldable phone… it transforms into a tablet. It‘s as if Apple folks has to see it for themselves to buy into it until then its a hard pass for them.

Yes, I own each; plus I have a Windows laptop, and I use them in vastly different ways. I don't need them merged into a singular device, that aims to serve every purpose yet does it inadequately yet costs 4-6 times the amount.

Someone enlighten me as to how a phone (in a tablet form factor) with 75-90% of it's screen folded away isn't some unwieldy, bulky mess?!

 

[Mac_The_Ripper]

You may be asking too much of Apple fans to give another COMPANY a try... but a crowd who is quick to claim they are "think different" to their core should illustrate that with more objectively in such thoughts. Presumably, imagination is key to "thinking different" which should be able to imagine beyond the "as is" offered by a single company.

I'm an Apple everything guy but I can easily appreciate features and products NOT available from Apple... even wish Apple would roll out their version of some such stuff. I easily see a great benefit of a fold or roll or virtual iPad/iPhone... a very big & obvious "problem" that it could solve for ME.

When the famous Mac launch commercial rolled out, I think many fans identified with different characters than they do now.

In 2023, who does the woman represent? Who are the lemmings in the crowd? And who are those people on the screen?

In 1984, I believe the collective answers to those questions would be very different than they've been in the last 10 years or so.

In a topic like this one, we all should perhaps re-think our definition of "different" in "think different."

Well, I am an Apple fan through and through (more so pre-Cook) and I've made the switch. Hell, I've even met the Woz. But, I am never going to blindly support any company and I will always try tech from multiple companies because that is the only way to truly find the products you like the most. I waited as long as I could for Apple to release a foldable iPhone. I just couldn't wait any longer.

 

[blairh]

As long as this leads to an eventual folding iPhone this is good news.

 

[Ludatyk]

I’ll be honest folding products are no more interest than the VR/AR headset. Both are niche markets in my view. I am happy with the size of the phone I carry and without it having to fold I wouldn’t mind a bigger screen iPad than the Pro 12.9. I’d certainly have uses for that, but again niche market.

Well, it starts out niche. Look at phablets… Apple vehemently denied their existence, claimed phones are better served one-handed use.

And now, phablets are nearly everywhere. It might take years until foldables become a thing, but slab phones are nearly reaching their peak.

 

[klasma]

Help me out here… you own a iPhone and iPad, yet… you claim it seeks to solve problems that don’t really exist?

Well, that‘s the point of a foldable phone… it transforms into a tablet. It‘s as if Apple folks has to see it for themselves to buy into it until then its a hard pass for them.

The problem is that it’ll be about twice as heavy and twice as thick as a normal phone, while still only being a mini-sized tablet, but now with a crease and probably no way to attach a Pencil to it. Also speaker placement would be a compromise one way or the other. So it combines an unattractive phone with an unattractive tablet.

 

[TracerAnalog]

Very curious, IF true. I do not like the plasticky feel of the screens of the foldables I’ve tried. Plus: I really do not like ‘the crease’. Surprise me Apple!

 

[tomtad]

Should have done this earlier rather than the Vision Pro debacle

 

[Steve-Jobz]

Hey Everybody! Introducing HomePod Fold (Carbon Neutral Edition)

 

[bobcomer]

A foldable phone I think I want. A foldable iPad I’m curious about but also kinda don’t see the point. Apple will have to convince me.

Lenovo had a foldable laptop type thing, it the foldable iPad would probably work like that. It might be worthwhile for an iPad to 2nd as a laptop if needed -- without the magic keyboard / case weight added.

Also, being able to fold it closed protects the screen for transport.

I want a foldable iPhone too.

 

[Ludatyk]

The problem is that it’ll be about twice as heavy and twice as thick as a normal phone, while still only being a mini-sized tablet, but now with a crease and probably no way to attach a Pencil to it. So it combines an unattractive phone with an unattractive tablet.

Well, I’m not denying the current state might not interest everyone. And speaking of the crease… Oppo have made strives to eliminate it.

But I’m only arguing the use case… if I can carry a phone and tablet, what is wrong with that logic?

 

[klasma]

As long as this leads to an eventual folding iPhone this is good news.

All iPhones eventually fold.


🤪

 

[apparatchik]

A foldable phone I think I want. A foldable iPad I’m curious about but also kinda don’t see the point. Apple will have to convince me.

All the “foldable phones” out there with the exception of the flip and the razr are actually foldable android tablets…

I see little benefit on folding an iPhone in half but tremendous benefit if you could make a cellular iPad pocketable

 

[Mac_The_Ripper]

Yes, I own each; plus I have a Windows laptop, and I use them in vastly different ways. I don't need them merged into a singular device, that aims to serve every purpose yet does it inadequately yet costs 4-6 times the amount.

Someone enlighten me as to how a phone (in a tablet form factor) with 75-90% of it's screen folded away isn't some unwieldy, bulky mess?!

Which foldable/s (book style) have you owned? Also, I'm not sure where you are getting your numbers regarding the cost being 4 to 6 times more. That doesn't even make sense. Also, my Google Pixel Fold fits more comfortably in my pocket than my iPhone 12 Pro Max did. There is nothing unwieldy about my PF.

 

[ThomasJL]

[sarcasm]
The iPad really needs a crease down the middle of the display. A crease creates visual inconsistency, and that is desirable. For example, the best thing to ever happen to the iPhone line and MacBook line displays was the notch. The notch created visual inconsistency, but that is a good thing because Tim Cook said they sold a lot and made enormous profits for Apple. Oh yeah, rounded corners on the displays create visual inconsistency, so they are also a good thing. Tim Cook is so wonderful!
[/sarcasm]

 

[UltimaKilo]

Not sure I see the point in a foldable iPad.
A foldable phone makes more sense to me and I would probably bite on something like that.
I toyed with my cousin's Fold. It wasn't as bad as I thought other than I'm not a fan of Android OS

Foldables are complete trash. They still break and are clunky as hell mechanically.

This rumor, for the reasons you stated, seems like total BS.

 

[Seanm87]

Maybe let’s see the product before we all pass judgement yes? I’m excited to see what they come up with. Might be good, might be terrible.

 

[DavidDenverCO77]

I somehow doubt this will happen…

same here