Apple Prepares Touch Screen Mac And IPad Fold By The End Of 2027

JAKARTA Apple is said to be preparing to release touch and fold screen devices in the next few years. Analysts say that folding iPads and touchscreen Macs are likely to come before the decade ends, marking major changes in Apple's product lines.

Industry analyst Jeff Pu predicts that the iPhone Fold will be Apple's first foldable product and launch by the end of 2026, followed by a foldable iPad a year later. However, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman predicts that the folding iPhone Fold and iPad will arrive simultaneously in 2027.

Some rumors say a mini-folding iPad can be a pioneer, with an outer screen like an iPhone when it folds, and a main screen the size of a mini iPad when it opens. This technology is said to increase portability while still offering a wide screen.

For years, Apple has consistently rejected the idea of a touchscreen MacBook for ergonomic reasons. Craig Federighi, Apple's VP Senior Engineering Software, once stated in 2018 that touching a laptop screen directly can be tiring.

However, Apple has filed various patents depicting MacBook designs with advanced touchscreens and trackpads. This shows that Apple is seriously exploring the possibility of presenting a touchscreen Mac, particularly in the form of portable devices such as the MacBook Pro.

Despite its huge potential, high prices are still a major barrier. Folding devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 which are priced at more than 2,500 US dollars are not sold in large quantities, and the iPad or folding MacBook is likely to be even more expensive.

Apple is just expected to release these products as the cost of folding screen technology drops significantly and consumers are starting to be more open to the shape of new devices.