Every foldable iPhone and iPad rumor we’ve heard so far

Apple is apparently working on some foldable devices. Let’s talk about it.

Rumors have been snowballing on the internet in recent months (if not years) that Apple is entering the foldable race that companies like Samsung have been successful in for the past few years. There are so many rumors and also useless speculations that it is impossible to cover them all in one article, but the latest and most reliable report points out that two folding devices will be launched from Cupertino I’m doing it. It’s the new iPhone and the new iPhone. iPad.

Without wasting any more time, let’s take a closer look. Here’s what we know about Apple’s potential first foldable device.

Foldable iPhone: What we know

We’ve been hearing rumors of a foldable iPhone for at least 2021, but a series of recent reports paint a clearer picture of what we can expect from the device and when we can expect it.

Back in February, information Apple is reportedly working on a clamshell-style foldable iPhone. For those not familiar with the term, it appears to be very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series of phones, which folds into a very small form factor and unfolds to be roughly the size and shape of a regular smartphone. Probably. This differs from the Galaxy Z Fold’s form factor, which is about the same size and shape as a regular smartphone when folded, and more like a small tablet when unfolded.

In a more recent series of reports, wall street journal corroborated this in December, suggesting that the new device’s display size will exceed the size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max when expanded. According to this report, the device could actually be launched as early as 2026, but there is no guarantee of that at this stage. As with any unreleased concept device, there’s always a chance it never makes it to the world.

Still, where there is smoke, there tends to be fire. Bloomberg’s Mark Garman (known for being often right about Apple) also says this in his book: power on newsletter It was reported in December that a foldable iPhone could be released in 2026. If two different major media outlets are hearing nearly the same thing about the device, there’s a good chance they’re doing more than just spreading rumors.

Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be definitively said about the foldable iPhone yet. If these reports are to be believed, we may be nearly two years away from seeing or even holding the device in our hands. Relevant details such as design, price, battery life, and special software features will have to wait until then.

Foldable iPad: What we know

The good news about the foldable iPad is that it has both of the features mentioned above. wall street journal And Bloomberg not only reported on the foldable iPhone, but also some notable information about it. The bad news is that we know less about the iPad than we know about the iPhone.

WSJ reports that Apple is developing a larger device “intended to function as a laptop.” The display measures approximately 19 inches when expanded, which is 4 to 5 inches larger than the largest MacBook display. This is almost in line with previous reports by Korean media. The Elecsaid in 2022 that Apple is developing a 20-inch foldable display that could be used on a laptop or tablet.

But is it a MacBook or an iPad? We don’t know for sure. The WSJ report suggested it would be more like a laptop, but Garman’s newsletter said it would be more like a larger iPad and likely run on iPadOS rather than macOS. The differences are significant because iPadOS and macOS do not have the same feature set and are not compatible with the exact same apps.

In any case, it will take some time before we find out. Garman suggested that this larger device will be released in 2028, perhaps after the launch of the foldable iPhone. All of these reports also suggest technical hurdles that need to be cleared, such as making these devices as thin as possible and allowing them to lie flat when unfolded. If rumors are to be believed, Apple has plenty of time to iron out those kinks before these products see the light of day.