Apple’s Rumored Foldable iPad Seems Too Big for Its Own Good

Apple’s big generational leap in devices is in foldables, according to the latest nugget to fall out of the rumor mill. Yes, we’ve seen plenty of Android foldables from Samsung, Google, and OnePlus, but Apple might have been able to offer a truly creaseless display. I’ll believe it when I see it, but the question is, will Apple fans get excited about a device the size of two iPad Pros?

Apple seems to have multiple foldable devices on its plate, according to rumors from throughout 2024. In his latest newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman offered the most details about the supposed folding iPad. The new device from the Cupertino, California tech giant would be the size of “two iPad Pros side-by-side.” Gurman didn’t mention if this was the 11- or 13-inch iPad Pro, but either way, it would be big for a hand-held device. His anonymous sources claimed Apple wants to bring out its foldable in 2028.

That’s enough time to craft something between iPadOS and macOS, which would be necessary if Apple expects users to use their massive touchscreen. The iPad Pro M4 had an impeccable display but was held back by iPadOS’ multitasking limitations. The report doesn’t mention if the foldable iPad will come with a keyboard, but if it’s a hybrid device, having some tactile, physical controls becomes necessary if you want to use it as a pseudo desktop.

Apple’s folding device, which its designers have reportedly tested, has a “nearly invisible crease.” This potentially 20+-inch device will be too large for most people to comfortably hold in their hands, like a tablet. Gurman referenced Microsoft’s canceled Courier foldable from back in 2010, but there are many more recent examples.

For instance, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold or the HP Spectre Fold. The latter was a $5,000 laptop-tablet hybrid that felt like an underpowered desktop or a too-large Windows 11 tablet. Asus has tried out the foldable design with the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, though more recent designs like the Zenbook Duo ignore the foldable aspect in place of two screens attached to a hinge.

The largest MacBook Pro device is a comfortable 16 inches. Anything larger than 18 inches has difficulty fitting in most backpacks, so a foldable makes sense for people who want to bring a full desktop setup when traveling.

The closest we’ve seen to a flat, unblemished folding panel was the OnePlus Open. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series still has a relatively sizable crease, and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold maintains the slight bump when running your finger along the screen. The last time we heard about the iPhone foldable, it was slated for 2026. That’s pretty late to the party, considering the slate of foldables on the market. Hell, there’s even a tri-fold form factor to consider.

However, we may not have to wait too long for updates to existing Apple products. Gurman noted that the company could finally fix the Magic Mouse. The only update it has received in recent years is the move to USB-C, just like every other Apple device. The Bloomberg writer said Apple is testing a new device that will let you use it and keep it charged simultaneously. Apple CEO Tim Cook couldn’t come up with a few good things to say about the device, and it may finally get the facelift it needs in the next year or year and a half.

Finally, Apple may be looking to refresh its line of Bluetooth trackers. The next version of the AirTag could have a longer range, according to Gurman’s anonymous sources. He claimed that the next AirTag will have an ultrawide-band chip on-device, which means more iPhones and other Apple devices will be able to pick up on the trackers from further away, increasing real-time tracking accuracy. It should also make the devices easier to find. Apple recently added a Share Item Location feature to its AirTags, which lets you share the locations of items with third parties.