Apple just hit the pause button on the large folding iPad supposedly on the drawing board in Cupertino, according to a published report from Wednesday. Development work had allegedly been going on for years.
At the same time, the company is reportedly moving ahead with a folding iPhone.
Apple folds on large folding iPad
Computer makers keep making foldable handsets and tablets because they solve a basic problem: users want large screens, but they aren‘t willing to carry around bulky devices. A folding phone or tablet meets both criteria.
But there’s also the cost factor. High-end iPads already come with hefty price tags, and including a foldable screen, robust hinge, and other tech would push up the cost. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 costs $1,900, and it sports only a 7.6-inch display. A folding iPad would need something considerably larger — and pricier. That may be why the product has reportedly been delayed.
“Sources familiar with the matter say Apple had also been exploring a foldable iPad alongside the iPhone,” said Digitimes. “However, the company has decided to pause progress on the larger foldable device for the time being.”
Digitimes’ sources cite cost as one reason, but also “a relatively modest consumer demand for larger foldable devices.”
True, current offerings, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, haven’t taken the world by storm. But none of these are from Apple — obviously — and sometimes it takes an Apple version to get large numbers of consumers to accept a new type of product. That’s what happened with iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch.
All this being said, the folding iPad wasn’t expected soon. The most reliable sources pointed to a release in 2028. And development is reportedly now on hold, not cancelled. If Apple engineers can eventually find a way to make the product feasible, it could go back onto the company’s schedule.
Folding iPhone still on the way
Apple hasn’t lost interest in foldables though, with a folding iPhone anticipated for release next year.
In the latest progress update, “Apple has quietly entered the early stages of developing its long-rumored foldable iPhone, with supply chain sources confirming that the company began its initial P1 (Prototype 1) phase in June,” said Digitimes on Wednesday.
Rumors of the handset have circulated for months, and it’s expected to go into full production this quarter, or at least by the end of the year. It’ll allegedly launch in 2026.
Reliable sources indicate that Apple picked a book-style design so the device opens into a small iPad. And if it’s a success, it might spur interest for a larger folding iPad, both inside Apple and with consumers.
