Apple is rumoured to be working on a large foldable device mixing MacBook and iPad aspects. Deprived of a physical keyboard, this device will rely on touch for all its functions. Even so, this foldable is expected to run macOS instead of iPadOS, bringing it closer to a MacBook than an iPad.
According to Jeff Pu from GF Securities, this foldable will combine the portability of an iPhone and the screen estate of an iPad when unfolded. With its 18.8in screen, this device would become the largest Apple has to offer, beating even the MacBook laptops, which top at 16in. But that’s not all as other rumours talk about a 20.2in model, not to forget the 7.8in foldable iPhone. The Cupertino giant is apparently planning to make foldables a staple option among its upcoming products.
These displays are said to be OLED-based, made by LG, potentially featuring under-display face-ID sensors. Mark Gurman has indicated that Apple doesn’t want to have any crease on its foldable devices to offer a unique product unavailable elsewhere. It wants the display to look like a single sheet of glass which would be a first on a consumer product. This rule is said to be one of the reasons the brand is taking so long to launch a foldable machine. Whether it will succeed is hard to say. But, if someone can pull this off, Apple has the best chance.
Interestingly, Mark Gurman pointed out that these devices won’t be powered by iPadOS, claiming that Apple’s upcoming iOS 19 and macOS 16 are opening the way for new hardware designs, which include foldable devices and touch-screen Macs. Thus, the brand will likely leverage its macOS, better suited for large devices.
Many 3D renders showcase this device opened at a 90° angle like regular laptops but with the bottom part of the screen operating as a touch keyboard. If correct, the typing experience may be sub-par or even unacceptable for someone who writes a lot. Thankfully Apple could bring back its 3D Touch, which delivered a pretty neat feel on old iPhones.
While we don’t have any concrete information, these foldable devices are expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2026, with a launch sometime in 2027.
