The Apple Vision Pro phone only launched a year and a half
ago, but Apple is previously looking for its next big thing. And according to a
new boom, it might have found it in the form of a giant foldable device that's
the magnitude of two iPad Pros sitting side-by-side.
That’s the up-to-date rumor from Bloomberg reporter Mark
Gurman’s Power On newsletter, and it sheds light on Apple’s possible plans to
enter – and, it hopes, dominate – the foldable marketplace over the next few
years.
According to Gurman, Apple is working to safeguard that the
foldable iPad does not have the crease down the center that has bedeviled other
foldable devices. Apple’s underground efforts have resulted in a device that
has a “nearly unseen crease” when opened up, Gurman says, although it’s “too
early to tell if Apple can get rid of it overall.”
Gurman believes this device will introduction “around 2028,”
which is later than the 2026 date forecast by analyst Jeff Pu. It could have a
screen size of around 18-20 inches when unfolded, Gurman says, yet it is predictable
to be small enough to fit into a backpack when not in use.
And it’s not the only foldable Apple has up its sleeve, with
the company also working on a hinged iPhone. But before you get too excited,
this isn’t probable to launch before 2026 at the earliest.
Over the past few years, Samsung, OnePlus and Google have unconfined
their own foldable devices to varying degrees of achievement. But the majority
of the best foldable phones either comprise two separate screens with a large
hinge in the middle, or have a single display that exhibits a deep seam in the
center.
Apple apparently wants to avoid both of those scenarios,
instead launching a foldable that’s made up of a one screen with no apparent
hinge or seam. And, given the company’s philosophy of attempting to be best rather
than first, Apple is clearly happy to take its time and faultless its product
rather than rushing to market with something substandard. Yet it also means
that you’ve got a long wait ahead if you want to get your hands on Apple’s
first foldable iPad.
Interestingly, Gurman states that the foldable iPad will
blend elements of iPadOS and macOS, although it will not be a “true iPad-Mac
hybrid.” This is because iPadOS will probably be “advanced enough to run macOS
apps” by the time the foldable promotions, Gurman says, but will also support old-style
iPad accessories like the Apple Pencil.
Even though this device could be the closest Apple has ever
come to merging the Mac and the iPad, in a way it proves why Apple has never
actually made this move.
A combo invention like this will be incredibly niche and
most people likely don’t need a single device that combines elements of the two
systems. Eventually, Apple wants you to buy both an iPad and a Mac, rather than
down one sale in the form of a dual-purpose device.
Still, iPad-Mac hybrid or not, it’s clear that this foldable
tablet has the possible to be a memorable “one more thing” moment for Apple.
Now the corporation just has to hope it proves more popular than the Vision
Pro.