Apple is working on tablets that can fold, a move that fits with their plan to use fancy screens for MacBooks and iPads. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Apple is thinking about making iPads that can fold after they put bendy screens on them. But, we don’t know when they’ll release these folding iPads.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors about Apple making a foldable iPad. A few months ago, there was another report saying Apple was really focused on making a foldable iPad with their partners. They might start making a few of these foldable iPads by late 2024, so we might hear about a new product from Apple in late 2024 or early 2025.
People have been talking about Apple making a foldable iPad for a while now. Some strong clues, like recent patent filings, back up these rumours. The patents talk about a special hinge to stop damage when you fold it, a screen that uses OLED, and a folding screen that can heal itself.
Besides iPads, Apple is also thinking about using OLED screens in their iPads and MacBooks. The Nikkei Asia report says these fancy screens will be in the expensive models of Apple tablets in 2024, and in MacBooks in 2025. Even though some say Apple is a bit slow compared to others in using these fancy screens, some see a bright side –– using bendy screens on iPads might be a first step to Apple’s very first foldable device.
It’s not just iPads, though. Apple is also looking into making a foldable iPhone. In December 2022, there was a report saying Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, possibly called iPhone Fold, hitting the stores by 2025. Another report thinks this iPhone Fold might look like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series. But, in 2023, many reports say Apple might be more focused on making the foldable iPad before the iPhone.
But, Apple is keeping quiet about all of this, so it’s tough to know when or if these plans will happen. Even so, with the foldable market getting so much attention, especially after the OnePlus Open in 2023, it’s hard to imagine Apple not wanting to try their hand at making something exciting in the world of foldable gadgets.
Rumours are buzzing about Apple making its first folding gadget, but guess what? It might not be a foldable iPhone after all. The chatter now points to Apple testing the waters with a foldable iPad, and they might unveil it in 2024.
Wood adds that a foldable iPhone could steal the spotlight from regular iPhones, so Apple might price it at a minimum of $2,500, making it more expensive than their top-tier iPhone Pro Max.
Backing up this idea, Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted in January 2023 about an “all-new design foldable iPad” hitting the scene in 2024. The only detail he spilt was that Anjie Technology would make a lighter and sturdier carbon fibre kickstand for the tablet.
Now, the big question: How much will this foldable Apple gadget cost? It’s tough to say. We don’t know much about it yet, and we’re not even sure if it’ll be an iPad. Plus, we don’t know when it’s coming out.
Currently, foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Huawei’s Mate X2 are pretty pricey, but tech prices usually drop over time. Apple’s plans are a mystery, with various patents suggesting different prototypes. The cost will depend on the features, and it might be more affordable like the Galaxy Z Flip 4 or pricier like the bigger foldable models.
In a nutshell, we can’t pin down the specifics right now, but if Apple does dive into the foldable world, it’s likely to be a fancy gadget with a matching fancy price tag.
