Apple’s 20-inch foldable iPad expected by 2028, iPhone in 2026

Apple's making a big foldable iPad, allegedly coming in about 2028, which would unfold into a display about the size of two iPad Pros next to one another. As per…

By Ishika Setia

December 17, 2024

3 min read

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Apple’s making a big foldable iPad, allegedly coming in about 2028, which would unfold into a display about the size of two iPad Pros next to one another. As per an earlier report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this foldable iPad will come with a ~20-inch display, catering to those who are looking for a larger screen in a compact form factor.

Apple has been working on the foldable for several years but has primarily been trying to eliminate the very noticeable crease that comes on foldable screens at the hinge. This problem still affects many of today’s foldable devices, including Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, which has yet to completely eliminate the crease since launching back in 2019.

Apple’s Foldable iPad with 20-Inch Display Expected by 2028, iPhone in 2026

Unlike successful foldable devices by rivals, Apple wants its foldable iPad to look like one continuous slab of glass when opened. While it’s too early still to say whether that goal will be entirely achieved, prototypes have demonstrated a nearly invisible crease, according to reports. Still, it’s not known if, in the end, Apple will be able to fully eliminate the crease from the final design.

Most of Apple’s foldable hopes are focused on a 20-inch iPad, but the company has also reportedly been working on a foldable iPhone — though Gurman says it’s unlikely to be released before 2026. A MacRumors report that, most recently, Apple will launch a device with an 18.8-inch foldable display sometime between 2028 to 2030 appears to match up with Gurman’s info on the company’s directional efforts on foldables.

Another report from The Wall Street Journal wrote that Apple was developing two foldable devices — one a laptop with a 19-inch display and another a small foldable device that would effectively work as a foldable iPhone. The latter is said to get a display that’s larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple is targeting a 2026 release for this iPhone model but could push it back even further in order to solve technical issues, like that annoying crease.

FAQs

What is Apple’s foldable iPad expected to offer?

Apple’s foldable iPad will feature a large 20-inch display, unfolding into two iPad Pros side-by-side, with an emphasis on a seamless, crease-free design.