Apple is planning to launch a gigantic foldable iPad by 2028, according to Mark Gurman in Bloomberg. According to the journalist specialized in leaks about Apple’s launch strategy, it would have an 18.8-inch screen and its fold would barely be visible.

Why is it important. This launch would represent a turning point in the strategy of Apple, one of the few manufacturers that has not yet presented a single folding screen product. In addition, it would blur the border between iPad and MacBook.

The panoramic. Apple continues to expand its catalog, and within four years it is planned, according to Gurman, to bring its first foldable. The new format would focus on combining mobility and productivity without cannibalizing existing products. At least on paper.

Already in 2023, the first leaks emerged, less concrete, which spoke of Apple’s first foldable would be an iPad, not an iPhone.

behind the scenes. The prototypes that Apple handles show an almost imperceptible fold, overcoming the main obstacle that most current folding devices have. On the other hand, we are talking about folding products already on the market, not those that will arrive in 2028.

The screen would function as a single continuous surface, not two independent panels, and will run iPadOS, but with the ability to run macOS applications.

• Its price, predictably, would go above that of the iPad Pro current.

In perspective. This movement also speaks about the way that Apple is having lately of understanding our relationship with computing and interfaces:

• More versatile devices and less anchored to a specific use case.
• They follow differentiated ecosystems to maximize sales.
• Slow innovation: Apple’s first foldable device would arrive almost ten years later than the first Androids with this technology.

Yes, but. Whether this proposal is successful will depend on several factors:

• Apple’s ability to eliminate the crease entirely.
• The real adoption of macOS apps on iPadOS.
• A minimally competitive price for a market already saturated with premium options… and without a compelling enough apparent use case.

Several manufacturers with Samsung at the helm have been trying to position their folding devices for years without much success. It’s not that they are irrelevant, but its market share does not exceed 1%.

Go deeper. This giant folding iPad would be part of a broader strategy that Apple has been cultivating in recent years:

• Mac for intensive tasks.
• iPhone and Apple Watch as ubiquitous personal devices.
• VisionPro as an immersive experience.
• Foldable iPad for creativity and mobility.

Interestingly, this approach from Apple focuses on bringing foldable panels to our backpacks while until now they have been offered mainly on pocket devices. Prioritize user experience over ultra-portability.

Featured image | Samuel Bryngelsson in Unsplash

In techopiniones | Apple’s metamorphosis: from minimalist catalog to calculated maximalism