Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
66,630
35,941


Apple is working to expand OLED display technology to several additional iPads, including a future foldable iPad, according to analyst firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC).

Foldable-Screen-MacBook-Concept-Astropad.jpg

An 8.5-inch OLED iPad mini is planned for a 2026 launch, while 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Air models are expected to follow in 2027. With the iPad Air and iPad mini set to gain OLED display technology, most of Apple's lineup with the exception of the low-cost iPad is expected to feature OLED displays by 2027.

DSCC also expects an 18.8-inch foldable iPad Pro with an OLED display to launch in 2027. There have been several rumors suggesting that a foldable iPad or MacBook will be one of Apple's first foldable devices, including a report from The Wall Street Journal over the weekend. The WSJ said that Apple is working on a larger foldable device that's "intended to serve as a laptop" and that would unfold to be about 19 inches in size. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also highlighted a foldable iPad this weekend, suggesting that the "giant" tablet would launch in 2028. According to Gurman, Apple does not want the upcoming foldable device to have a crease, instead appearing as a single piece of glass.

Rumors have been unclear on whether the upcoming foldable device will be an iPad or a Mac, but either is feasible depending on what operating system Apple opts to go with.

While iPhones and the Apple Watch have used OLED displays for years, it has taken time for larger OLED displays to be affordable enough for use in Macs and iPads. Apple debuted its first OLED iPads this year, introducing the 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Pro models.

Article Link: Foldable iPad Pro and OLED iPad Air Expected in 2027, OLED iPad Mini to Launch in 2026
 
  • Haha
Reactions: SFjohn
A large foldable iPad will definitely cater to the Apple Pencil users (artists & the like). But for general couch & surfing use... this might be too big for some folks.
 
What an incredible design. And of course, someone’s gonna say, “Billions of non-pro users are really gonna need this iPad.”
 
  • Haha
Reactions: iGüey
Great… “let’s bend our products and call them a feature”. That 19-inch better be OLED. I don’t care how faster my emails take to load… but OLED would be a level up!
 
No crease is key, as is long term durability. If a crease shows up after a year or two, a foldable device would be an epic fail, IMHO.
I agree.

Also, now I can truly see a good use for a folding screen: a tablet! That is exactly the kind of device that could use a folding screen. I don't see a lot of utility for a folding screen for phones even though I know they exist. Phones are supposed to be largely one-hand devices and so if they need to be folded, are generally too large. This doesn't mean there aren't more specialised situations or persons who could use a folding screen for phones.
 
Wow! I am very excited. iPad Pro is a phenomenal device. It is my main computer actually because MacBook Pro is meant for graphics intensive tasks only & work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iGüey
Seems like they are going after artists or folks that need a portable monitor that is foldable. I currently use my iPad Air as second screen/artist tablet in conjunction with my MacBook Air.

I wonder if you could turn it sideways and use it like a 16:9 screen in conjunction with a iPad Magic Keyboard.
 
I still haven't been convinced by the idea of foldables and think they're difference for difference sake... BUT... a foldable iPad makes a lot more sense than a foldable iPhone to me.
 
It’s a 16” MacBook Pro with a screen that extends down and over onto the keyboard area that you can stick your control panels onto. Anything else would be too niche to be worthwhile devoting major resources to.
The folding iPhone will come when they can squeeze the equivalent of two screens (and their related internal gubbins) into a device the same thickness as a current iPhone. I doubt the folding screen technology is the holdup here.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: iGüey
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.