Foldable iPad With ~20-Inch Display Likely Set for 2028 Launch

[Saturn1217]

Of all the foldable concepts, this one excites me the least. I would much rather an iPad mini sized device that folds out into a regular sized iPad. Or a phone sized device that folds out into an iPad mini sized device.

A device this big doesn’t seem like it will be meaningfully small when folded. And who wants to use a 19” screen without any kind of stand when unfolded? Maybe artists? But outside of that it sounds cumbersome.

I hope we eventually get smaller foldables too.

 

[Peterrocks!]

Easy: programmable matter.

 

[j26]

The surface area of an iPhone 16 Pro Max is 19.6 square inches.

Meanwhile, the surface area of an iPad Mini is 40.7 square inches.

So yes, you could in theory take the biggest iPhone and make it foldable (a slightly smaller mini).

What speaks against it is weight and cost.

A foldable design comes with significant additional weight and bulk on an already large phone, and I wonder how many people really want to lug something so big and heavy around with them everywhere they go.

As for cost, I highly doubt this kind of device would sell for less than $1700.

$1700 is the combined cost of a brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max and a iPad mini (both at base specs)

So yes, it's technically possible, but I fear its market would be quite small.

On the weight issue - the Honor Magic V3 is actually lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (okay, only 1g lighter, but still....) and has probably close enough to twice the screen area.

As for price - oh yes, it would be expensive - starting price north of 2k, I'd imagine.

 

[wanha]

A small samsung fold phone is €2000. I'd say a €3000 price is reasonable going by Apple price structure.

You may well be right... I just can't imagine it selling in significant quantities at that price point

 

[Jamie0003]

can’t wait to pay double/triple for a massive crease down the middle and a screen that only lasts 5 minutes. Foldables truly are a revolution

 

[Frantisekj]

I do hope it’s not set up as shown with a keyboard on the lower half. Have you ever tried typing (or just successfully touching something), on an iPad that’s lying flat in a table? Chances are you’ll aim wrong and miss what you are trying to press.

I think there are other challenges then a crease. Like you say. If is such device used as laptop, it has to be stable. I have no knowledge but can not imagine just iPad bended in half to work like that. One part should be havier. They may put battery in one half and electronics in other but would be such battery be big enough?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

If it folds diagonally it won’t crease.

If you cut sandwiches diagonally they taste better. Gotta love that diagonal flavour profile.

 

[Ctrlos]

This is my feeling about ALL foldables. If the extra small form factor when folded/not in use is that important, fine. But why introduce the obvious failure point of a foldable screen?

It’s a shame Microsoft didn’t make a proper go of the Surface Duo because that thing looked like such a clever concept. Most foldable reviews on YouTube praise them for their multitasking at which point the hinge is superfluous.

 

[DrJR]

If you cut sandwiches diagonally they taste better. Gotta love that diagonal flavour profile.

Thank gawd you get it….. Apple won’t listen.

 

[Le0M]

Or… will this finally be the device that can run iPadOS and MacOS depending on how it is configured? If Apple is going to price these in the $3-4K range, why not shoot for the stars?

Unfortunately for some, Apple made it clear that this is not the path they chose to follow.
Honsetly, I just hope that foldOS will be a combination of the best features from both macOS and ipadOS.

 

[Jamie0003]

Before you write “who asked for this” remember you are not the only person in the world.

Are there lots of people wanting devices that cost 3x more and break if you look at them funny due to a plastic screen with a giant crease down the middle?

 

[TechRunner]

Maybe the supposed iPhone Air is a test product for a future folding iPhone? A doubling of a thin phone like the projected Air with a hinge in the middle that folds out into a Mini-sized device might be the end goal. Sell the iPhone Air to a bunch of beta testers to see how it holds up over a year or two (build quality, battery life, etc.) then "double it" for the foldable.

 

[Brian_v11]

Knowing Apple of the crease has to be there they’ll design a special UI for it.

I can guess the marketing. "First we gave you the notch, now we give you the crotch."

 

[rp2011]

You can see from miles away how bad this will flop. All the supposed upcoming products seem so preposterously silly that it Looks like Apple has officially entered a flop era.

 

[ddhhddhh2]

I know this one! Non-coders, of which there are hundreds of millions in the world?

Absolutely agree! I’m sure Tim Cook worked very hard to pitch the iPad as a truly professional “second computer.” And for the billions (or is it hundreds of billions now?) of users worldwide, they can use this thing to watch YouTube, read eBooks, scroll TikTok, or surf the web—clearly professional enough, right? Especially now we’re talking about a foldable 20-inch professional iPad. Oh, but if you’re lying in bed watching TikTok on such a pro, big, and heavy device, your arms might get a little tired. Careful not to dislocate your shoulder! As for me, one of those rare users outside the billions who do need to run Docker, I’m good with just an iPad Mini. The “too professional” iPad isn’t really for me. 🙃

 

[ddhhddhh2]

The most intriguing thing said in this write up is iPad OS being potentially able to run Mac OS apps eventually.

No, actually, the only thing I’m 100% sure of is that Tim Cook would say: “This is the best iPad Pro we’ve ever made! It’s beyond anything you could imagine! It will be your third computer. Forget the last one!” 🤣

 

[twintin]

Knowing Apple of the crease has to be there they’ll design a special UI for it.

Sure. They will put a big island in the middle to hide the crease. 😄

 

[salz4life]

typing on full sized touchpad keyboard I can't see being something I'd want to constantly do. Texting using a touchscreen on a phone is one thing.... this is on an actual computer. I'm sure I'll be wrong when it comes out, but for now...

 

[ellpee]

Keep regurgitating the thoughts of this guy who couldn’t get the date of the iPhone event right but you’re willing to believe he has knowledge of Apple’s roadmap to 2028. Sorry but I don’t get it.

 

[picpicmac]

If it folds diagonally it won’t crease.

Or if it folds through a fourth physical dimension - no folds visible to us 3-D-ers.

 

[rjsmith2007]

Seems cool. Not sure why we care about these speculative leaks that are multiple years away. At this point is vapor ware and I’d rather speculate about things closer to reality and that’s maybe purchasable in the next year.

 

[AppleMega]

Why not an iPad Pro that you can wad down into a ball? That way you can dispose of it into a larger variety of garbage receptacles.

 

[alexanderasher]

If this has the same kind of connectivity to the Mac as current iPads this would probably be the best drawing tablet for Macs on the market. Really hopeful for this.

 

[darngooddesign]

So Apple is making a Zenbook Duo with extra steps? (and extra costs... and running a tablet OS...) 😬

View attachment 2462957

I want something like the Asus Zenbook Fold.

 

[macjaffa]

Larger will be less likely to crease. My best guess.

I don’t care about a crease. I want a folding i phone that is the same thickness closed as an iPhone is today when open. The samsung flips are so clunky . Literally double the thickness when folded. Lul wut