Report suggests Apple is pondering over the creation of a foldable iPad-MacBook hybrid, featuring a 20-inch display.
Apple's predictable release patterns rarely leave room for surprise, but lately, a buzzworthy rumor has caught our attention. The tech giant is reportedly pondering over a 20-inch foldable device, a blend of MacBook and iPad functionalities. The killer feature? When folded, half of its touchscreen converts into a virtual keyboard, almost like magic.
Now, you might be skeptical, just like I was. But there's compelling evidence hinting at Apple's serious consideration for such a device. Last week, trusted analyst Ross Young proclaimed a foldable iPhone delay until 2025, with Apple investigating the idea of foldable notebooks. And this wasn't just a wild guess – it was corroborated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He spilled the beans in his Power On newsletter, mentioning a "dual-screen, foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid" that ditches the physical keyboard for a fully touch-screen base.
These revelations paint a picture of a device akin to Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold or Asus' upcoming Zenbook 17 Fold OLED. This foldable tablet with a 17.3-inch panel transforms into two 12.5-inch screens when folded. The lower halves become digital keyboards or you can use the detachable keyboard that accompanies both models.
While we're not 100% sold on this foldable idea yet, we can't deny Apple's recent learnings from the less-than-successful Touch Bar. An all-digital keyboard could be tricky, but if Apple went ahead with a 20-inch foldable, it might position itself as an iPad Pro alternative for content consumption and occasional productivity with a physical keyboard.
In the near future, we're hearing whispers of a larger iPad Pro with an OLED display, further blurring the lines between the tablet and laptop. A foldable screen could help Apple enlarge the screen without compromising on size. But let's be real, if Apple does move forward with this 20-inch foldable, the device is more likely to hit the market in 2026 or 2027. With other manufacturers testing the waters in the meantime, Apple's decision won't be made in isolation.
Now, buckle up because the rumor mill is churning out another Apple surprise – a foldable iPhone, estimated to launch between 2023 and 2025. What a time to be alive, huh?
[1] Enrichment Data Sources:- The Verge- MacRumors- Mashable- Tom's Guide- Wired
- In light of Ross Young's prediction, Apple might delay the release of a foldable iPhone until 2025, focusing on investigating foldable notebooks instead.
- According to Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Apple is considering a "dual-screen, foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid," which could replace the physical keyboard with a fully touch-screen base.
- The tech industry is abuzz with rumors of Apple's potential 20-inch foldable device, which would combine MacBook and iPad functionalities, offering a 20-inch foldable touchscreen that transforms into a virtual keyboard.
- By 2025, Apple might introduce a foldable device, following in the footsteps of other manufacturers like Lenovo and Asus, who have already released or are planning to release foldable devices with large screens and digital keyboards.
