Apple is rumored to be working on a folding device, this time in the form of a giant iPad. However, according to the latest report, the Cupertino company's project is not only delayed until the end of this decade, but also potentially canceled entirely.
In the "Power On" bulletin from Bloomberg written by technology journalist Mark Gurman, it is mentioned that Apple is developing a very large iPad Fold. Even so, the report added that this device is likely not to be launched before the end of the 2020s, and there is even a chance it will never be released at all.
A number of previous claims say this device will have a screen of around 18 inches diagonally. If the figure is accurate, then the size is close to the Mac screen. For comparison, Apple's desktop line such as the iMac has ever come with a 21-inch screen. This means that when opened fully, the iPad Fold will feel more like a portable workstation than a casual tablet to watch a series.
However, the latest report does not specifically mention the screen size, only describing it as "gigantic" with a screen as big as a Mac. The only reason this device is still considered portable is because it can be folded into a smaller size when not in use.
The problem is, the development of this device is rumored to have encountered a number of design obstacles. One of them concerns practical aspects, including how users will type comfortably on a screen that big.
The ergonomic challenges and hinge structure are said to be factors slowing down the project. In fact, there is a possibility that these obstacles cannot be completely overcome, which means Apple may choose to stop its development.
Interestingly, despite having a Mac-class screen, this device is said not to run macOS. It will still use iPadOS, and is not positioned as a hybrid device between iPad and Mac. In other words, Apple seems to still maintain a clear dividing line between its two product ecosystems, even though the screen size is getting closer.
Beyond the giant version of the Fold iPad, there are also separate reports that Apple is considering a smaller folding device. This version could replace the position of the iPad mini, with a screen of around 7 or 8 inches. However, this size also intersects with rumors about the iPhone Fold, so it is not clear whether what is meant is a mini folding tablet or a large screen folding phone.
Rumors about Apple's folding device have actually been circulating for years. Since 2020, Apple has even obtained a patent related to the hinge design for a folding screen. This fact indicates that the exploration of folding technology is not just an internal discourse, but research that has been running for quite some time.
Even so, having a patent and bringing a product to market are two different things. Apple is known for not rushing into new categories before it feels the user experience is really mature. If this giant Fold iPad really exists, Apple will most likely want to make sure the device is not just big and can be folded, but also makes sense functionally.
In a landscape of increasingly aggressive technology with folding phones and tablets from various manufacturers, Apple seems to still choose a cautious approach. And in the Apple world, "being developed" does not always mean "will be released". Sometimes, big projects end up as expensive experiments that only live in the Cupertino design lab.
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