We’ve already discussed Apple’s plans for a foldable iPhone, the one that may arrive next year, depending on how generous the stars (and supply chain) decide to be. But what we haven’t discussed yet is the other foldable device Apple reportedly keeps under wraps. Is it a MacBook? An iPad? A hybrid that refuses to choose sides?
Still, what we do know is that multiple credible sources, from supply chain veterans to leakers with suspiciously good track records, continue to confirm that Apple is working on a much larger foldable device. And by large, we don’t mean a slightly taller iPhone, we’re talking laptop-to-tablet territory. If this thing ever launches, it could mark a new category in the Apple lineup.
So, we’ve gathered everything that’s currently known about this mysterious device. Unfortunately, there isn’t as much information as we’d like (classic Apple behavior, and Apple seems happy to let rumors spiral until Tim Cook holds the product in his hand). But for fans, even the scraps can spark a good debate.
Everything Leakers Say About the Big Foldable Device From Apple
As mentioned above, there isn’t a flood of data on this foldable creation from Apple. No renders, no schematics, no spy shots of engineers sneaking it out of Apple Park under their jackets. But we’ve poked around enough through analyst reports, supply chain, and Medium posts with levels of detail. So here’s what we managed to dig up.
- Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple settled on an 18.8-inch foldable panel, downsizing from an earlier 20-inch prototype. Ross Young backs this number up, adding that the company toyed with various display sizes before locking this one in. According to both analysts, LG Display stands behind the screen’s development, and Apple expects the panel to fold in half cleanly. In theory, when unfolded, the screen should offer nearly 19 inches of uninterrupted viewing space. Face it, if anyone can spend five years and a billion dollars to make a fold invisible, it’s Apple.
- Apple likely doesn’t plan to settle for just any hinge. Kuo previously mentioned that Apple wants the fold to be as crease-free as possible, even if it means throwing expensive components into the mix. Reports hint at a hinge similar to the “waterdrop” design used by other OEMs, which lets the screen curve inward instead of folding sharply. Apple also supposedly considered a carbon fiber kickstand, possibly sourced from Anjie Technology, to keep the unfolded device stable without adding much weight. Kuo floated this idea back in 2023, and it’s also the kind of extra detail that makes you wonder if he saw a prototype or just someone’s email signature.
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Anjie Technology, as a polishing and bonding supplier of the carbon fiber kickstand for the foldable iPad, is expected to continue benefiting from the growing trend of foldable devices equipped with kickstands in the future.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 30, 2023
- As for the chip, there’s no official name here, but Kuo dropped a hint about Apple fitting the foldable with an M5 chip. That would place the device at least a couple of generations ahead of current MacBooks and iPads. The M5 doesn’t exist yet, but if Apple releases the foldable closer to 2027 or 2028, the timeline checks out. Gurman also chimed in to say this won’t be a budget machine, so if it runs Apple Silicon, expect something that can rival a MacBook Pro in terms of horsepower, especially with a screen that big to light up.
- Gurman believes Apple will go with iPadOS, but concedes that by 2028, it might look nothing like the iPadOS we know today. It could run Mac-class apps, support desktop workflows, and still accept Apple Pencil input. Others speculate that Apple might try dual-booting iPadOS and macOS, but let’s be real, that this sounds too chaotic for a company that just merged System Preferences into Settings and called it a day.
- There’s only one leak about the camera worth mentioning, and it comes from Digital Chat Station, which claimed Apple tested a prototype with under-display Face ID. That would remove the need for a notch or camera cutout and help Apple sell the illusion of one seamless screen. We don’t know anything else about the camera setup.
- Mark Gurman described the device as a full-screen notebook without a physical keyboard or trackpad. So yes, Apple seems ready to ditch the keyboard entirely in favor of a virtual one. There’s no official confirmation of how that would feel, but Apple has filed patents for tactile feedback systems to simulate key presses on flat glass. Whether it works or just reminds people of the original butterfly keyboard remains to be seen.
- Nothing has leaked about battery and connectivity, but given the size and likely power demands of the display, expect a split battery design, with cells in both halves of the foldable. USB-C or Thunderbolt ports seem inevitable, especially after the EU’s quiet nudge. 5G support also seems likely if Apple pushes this as a high-end mobile device with iPad-like versatility. If it leans more toward MacBook territory, they might skip cellular.
Source: Unsplash
When Will Apple Release Its Foldable Device?
Apple hasn’t confirmed anything publicly, but insiders have sketched out a rough timeline, and it keeps shifting. At first, Ming-Chi Kuo expected the foldable to launch in 2024, then pushed it to 2025, and eventually, in an update from August 2024, said mass production likely won’t start until 2027 or 2028. He mentioned delays tied to technical issues and Apple’s insistence on a screen without a visible crease.
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Thus, I’m taking a cautious approach to iPad shipments for 2023, predicting a YoY decline of 10-15%. Nevertheless, I’m positive about the foldable iPad in 2024 and expect this new model will boost shipments and improve the product mix.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 30, 2023
Ross Young, another reliable display analyst, originally pointed to 2026 or 2027. Later, he revised that estimate after hearing Apple locked in the 18.8-inch display size, which lined up with Kuo’s adjusted schedule. Mark Gurman added to this in his Power On newsletter. He also pointed to 2028 as the most realistic launch window. According to Gurman, Apple continues to test the hardware but isn’t rushing it.
The 2028 date also showed up in a leaked internal roadmap shared on Twitter. The chart placed Apple’s foldable display product somewhere between 2028 and 2030, and Gurman later said the timeline generally matched what he had heard from sources.
Final Thoughts
We always enjoy following leaks about Apple’s upcoming devices. The foldable iPhone didn’t surprise us much. With Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series finding a real audience, Apple’s move into that category felt inevitable. At some point, they had to respond, and they probably won’t mind charging more while they do it.
But the idea of a foldable iPad that stretches into MacBook territory? That caught us off guard. The size, the concept, the potential use cases – everything about it feels more ambitious than Apple usually dares on the first try. For a company that tends to move cautiously, this one stands out.
We can’t offer any serious conclusions yet, as the leaks give us pieces, not the full picture. Still, one detail sticks with us. Craig Federighi once told Federico Viticci in an interview that the iPad will never become a MacBook. At the time, the statement felt final. Now, with this hybrid foldable device in development, the conversation takes on a different tone. Did he speak about the iPad as it exists now? Or did he already know something we didn’t?
Maybe this new device won’t be an iPad or a MacBook. Maybe it’ll be something entirely different. Or maybe it’ll end up as both, depending on which half of the screen you look at. We don’t know yet. But with 2028 still far off, we have plenty of time to watch, guess, and speculate. Apple clearly likes to keep us guessing, and so far, we don’t mind.
