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

[jlc1978]

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.

I'm with you. I really don't see the point of a foldable phone, other than to make a huge phone small enough to fit into a pocket. A friend has a foldable Android phone and it's a neat engineering feat but not compelling enough to make me want one.

My main concern is durability. Such a device would scream for AC+ during the entire ownership lifetime.

For me' I'd end up staring at the crest if it is visible and hating the device.

Yes! Then I could have an iPad mini sized display when folded but fold it out into a bigger 13-14” screen when I want to get more work done.

Your assuming the display is visible when folded, and not merely covered by the back to protect the screen when folded.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The bulk is not negligible, but I still have no answer to "why would I need this" to begin with.

Yes it looks cool, but then what?

Enjoying a bigger screen when you want one and a smaller screen when you don't.

 

[mashinhead]

Oh how Apple went from "Redmond start your copiers" to "Cupertino start your copiers"

We need to be Netflix
We need to be Venmo
We need to be Spotify (dropped the ball on this one as they could have been the leader here)
We need to be Tesla

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

For me' I'd end up staring at the crest if it is visible and hating the device.

This makes me recall countless notch defense posts where people claim they don't even notice the notch... and dynamic island since.

Perhaps a transparent Apple crease would be even harder to see than a black notch or island for some?

 

[ersan191]

I don't want a folding anything. Foldables are a solution in search of a problem.

I mean, no they aren't - but even if that were true then don't buy a foldable, they aren't going to stop making non-foldable devices.

 

[Ctrlos]

Still running dumbOS, I suppose?

This joke is getting old. There isn’t much you cannot do with an iPad that is not an incredibly niche usage Case

(Somebody might suggest BIM but you still can’t get Revit on the Mac so…)

 

[one more]

A foldable iPhone coming first would be a much bigger hit, IMO.

 

[Fuzzball84]

For 12 inch plus tablets this can work, but for anything smaller I’d rather have a solid monolith than a fragile origami iPad. The only thing I am happy with folding is my MacBooks and laptops.

There’s a reason why some companies highlight a lack of moveable parts such as fans and hinges… it’s because it always results in a more durable and longer lasting device.

 

[Ctrlos]

I’d have to wonder to what end? A foldable phone is either a regular device that becomes a tablet (useful) or a nice small phone that becomes regular size when you need it (also useful) and the folding aspect allows it to still fit in your pocket.

A foldable iPad doesn’t make a lot of sense other than as a ‘me too’ device so Apple can look like it’s in the club. An iPad Mini that folds out might be handy I suppose.

What Apple should have done is go with the sturdier and highly underrated Surface Duo double-screened device instead. A dual-screened iPad Mini would be amazing and incredibly handy.

 

[crsh1976]

Enjoying a bigger screen when you want one and a smaller screen when you don't.

Why would I want a smaller display for my tablet? It's not like I will fold it and put it in my pocket.

We're swarmed with solutions looking for problems to solve here.

 

[one more]

I'm with you. I really don't see the point of a foldable phone, other than to make a huge phone small enough to fit into a pocket.

Not just a “huge” phone, but it will make any sized phone much more compact without sacrificing the screen size. Just imagine a standard 6.1” iPhone folded in the middle. This will make a nice plump 3” squarish box when you carry it. Same goes for bigger iPhones - Plus and Max. Could be pretty cool if done right.

 

[OnawaAfrica]

in my opinion foldable tablets or phones are gimmics and toys. id never buy any foldable neither apple nor samsung or any else

 

[ErneX]

Comments like this are so fascinating. I was an Apple Fanboy from 2003-2019. Owned just about every iPhone since the first one, had an iPad on launch day in 2010.

I've also owned a Galaxy Z Fold 2 and 3. Neither of them had a single issue with the display or took on any damage. In fact, the screen was MORE protected on those phones because it was closed most of the time in my pocket or when I accidently dropped it.

But most of all, I can only assume the complaints about the crease are from people who haven't spent much time with the device and just want a reason to hate it. It's such a non-issue and not something you even see at all when you're using the phone unless you're deliberately TRYING to see it. Acting like it makes the device completely unusable is really just telling us you've not spend a meaningful amount of time trying one of these devices with an open mind.

I‘d be glad to be proven wrong, but the ones I tried I can see where the screen folds while it’s not folded and I honestly don’t like that at all.

Personally I’d only buy a foldable device if there’s not a non-foldable alternative, or if in the future the place where it folds actually stays flat when opened. We’ll see.

 

[Hellokittystampmyfacein]

I can’t pay 3500 for this

 

[Mac_The_Ripper]

I‘d be glad to be proven wrong, but the ones I tried I can see where the screen folds while it’s not folded and I honestly don’t like that at all.

Personally I’d only buy a foldable device if there’s not a non-foldable alternative, or if in the future the place where it folds actually stays flat when opened. We’ll see.

Every foldable I've owned (Z Fold 3 & 4, Z Flip 4, and now the Pixel Fold) have all stayed completely flat when opened.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Why would I want a smaller display for my tablet? It's not like I will fold it and put it in my pocket.

We're swarmed with solutions looking for problems to solve here.

In my case, iPad Mini is also my phone (Voip app with buds). One thing I really wish it had that iPhone does is pocketability. I don't want to go iPhone only because I don't want that relatively small screen as my only screen. I see practically no purpose (for ME) in carrying BOTH products around everywhere.

So I want a foldable iPad for pocketability that can cover both phone and tablet uses. If that turns out to be an unfoldable iPhone, I imagine it as basically the SAME product with same benefits.

iPad used as a phone too (hardware + cell service) is substantially less expensive than iPhone (hardware + cell service) and covers all telephony bases for me just fine. All apps- IMO- work better on the added screen R.E.

Perhaps there's nothing in that for you? But all the people who have ever been watching/using something on an iPhone screen and wishing they had more screen R.E. and/or those using their iPad but wish it was more portable/pocketable can find BOTH itches scratched in a single product like this.

Does that mean everyone must have this forced upon them? No. Anyone happy with the "as is" would keep enjoying the "as is." This would be for those people who want something different.

 

[Shifts]

It's funny how some of the same people who talk trash about foldables and also at the possibility of Apple releasing a foldable iPhone are some of the same people who can't wait for Apple to release a foldable iPad, which makes far less sense by comparison. You cannot make this stuff up!

Do you mean you keep track of what others post here and remember when they have conflicting opinions? Or do you simply see different opinions and make this conclusion?

 

[Mac_The_Ripper]

Do you mean you keep track of what others post here and remember when they have conflicting opinions? Or do you simply see different opinions and make this conclusion?

It's easy for me to remember MR users who complain about foldables like the mere existence of them hurts them in some way and then their complaints disappear as soon as Apple is rumored to be working on a foldable.

 

[Shifts]

About time.
But where are all the people that were laughing at Samsung for pushing for foldables hard?
Yeah, that's what I thought.

I am still here, and I absolutely don’t want this product if Apple do release it. Laughing at the idea, as it is a horrible one still.

 

[Shifts]

It's easy for me to remember MR users who complain about foldables like the mere existence of them hurts them in some way and then their complaints disappear as soon as Apple is rumored to be working on a foldable.

Alright, then you can put me in that camp too. Not that it hurts me that they exist and others want them. But to me they are still a ridiculous thing.

 

[spinedoc77]

I have an acquaintance who has a foldable Android phone. It's awful in my view... even when I try to envision Apple's design and quality aesthetics as much as I can.

The problem I see is that it's just not going to be good enough to get the job done at this point. In 10 years, maybe. But not now... and I doubt even then I would have an interest in this, neither as a phone nor a tablet. It seeks to solve problems that don't really exist.

"Awful" Nonsense, just pure and utter nonsense. You are completely entitled to your opinion and personal use case, but I just find it ludicrous when others think their non use case translates to the rest of consumers. I totally get if you don't like the crease, are concerned about breakage/fragility, or any other aspect that is a legitimate concern. But I just don't get the belief that this doesn't solve a problem for some consumers.

I'm going to go ahead and describe my "problem" and see if you can see how this is a solution for myself. I would like a larger screen, something like an iPad mini size, but I don't want to carry around an iPad mini, both because it's too large for my pockets and because I don't want 2 devices.

Again, totally acceptable if YOU don't like it, need it, or find a use or solution for your uses. But stop extrapolating that to the rest of us who actually find great utility in this form factor.

 

[Mac_The_Ripper]

Alright, then you can put me in that camp too. Not that it hurts me that they exist and others want them. But to me they are still a ridiculous thing.

That's fine. I'm not asking for everyone to love foldables. They aren't for everyone. No device is.

 

[spinedoc77]

I’m thinking of a problem that this is a solution for and can’t think of any

Physics and common sense have entered the room...

 

[JosephAW]

Two years after launch, foldgate

 

[spinedoc77]

Ummmm, "it's NOT a notch... it's more screen R.E. to the left & right."

Perhaps my favorite all-time classic, even above "you're <all> holding it wrong."

Oh don't worry, Apple will put a tiny little 10x2048 strip in their crease which will have custom notifications and alerts devs can customize and call it a "feature." I'll bet on the name now: Apple Rail. MR members will go crazy over the incredible functionality.