Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is planning to launch its first foldable device in 2028. He describes it as “similar to a large iPad that unfolds to the size of two iPad Pros placed side-by-side.”
Speculation surrounding an Apple foldable has persisted for years, but according to Bloomberg, the company is finally refining its focus on a specific product slated for future release.
The report also emphasizes that Apple aims to eliminate visible creases in its devices, which has become a significant focus during the development process. Currently, the crease is nearly imperceptible, but there are still challenges to overcome:
Prototypes of the new device in Apple’s industrial design division exhibit a crease that is almost invisible. However, it remains uncertain if Apple can completely eradicate it. Samsung Electronics, which released its initial foldable phone five years ago, has been unable to remove the crease entirely as well.
When opened, the proposed display will reportedly measure about 20 inches. Gurman refers to it as a “single, continuous piece of glass,” and denotes it as a “premium product.”
Apple seems to be prioritizing a foldable design that features much larger screens suitable for convenient transport, rather than compromising on usability in a pocket-sized tablet.
As for the operating system, Gurman indicates that this product will likely operate on a version of iPadOS. However, there’s an intriguing detail to consider:
I don’t think it will be a full iPad-Mac hybrid, but it will incorporate aspects of both. By 2028, iPadOS should sufficiently evolve to support macOS applications …
While it’s uncertain whether this is merely Gurman’s conjecture, the prospect of running Mac applications on this foldable iPad (and possibly on other iPads as well) is certainly thrilling!
Regarding foldable iPhones, the company is exploring that avenue, though we might not see a release until at least 2026.
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