Apple Foldable Future: 2028 Launch Set for 20-Inch iPad With Game-Changing macOS Compatibility

Apple is aiming for a 2028 debut of its foldable iPad, equipped with a 20-inch seamless display and a hybrid iPadOS capable of running macOS apps. This bold innovation could redefine the foldable market and set new standards in portable tech.

Apple Targets 2028 for Foldable Device Launch

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Apple plans to unveil its first foldable in the year 2028. “Something akin to a gigantic iPad that unfolds into the size of two iPad Pros side-by-side," says Gurman.

After years of intermittent speculation, Bloomberg reports that Apple has settled on a single device that will debut in the next several years: a foldable.

According to the article, Apple has made it a priority during development to ensure that their smartphones do not develop any creases. At this point, the wrinkle is hardly noticeable, but Apple has not yet managed to get rid of it totally:

"Prototypes of this new product within Apple’s industrial design group have a nearly invisible crease. But it’s too early to tell if Apple will can get rid of it altogether. Samsung Electronics Co., which launched its first foldable phone five years ago, has tried unsuccessfully to remove the crease."

Apple's Efforts to Eliminate Creases in Foldable Screens

Apparently, this screen will be about 20 inches when fully extended. It is a "single, uninterrupted piece of glass," according to Gurman. Additionally, it is characterized as a "higher-end device."

It would appear that Apple is putting more effort into developing larger screens that can fit in a backpack with its foldable plan than into providing an inadequate tablet experience for your pocket.

Foldable iPad to Integrate iPadOS and macOS Features

Gurman, when asked about the OS, said that it will probably be a variant of iPadOS. But wait, there's a cool little detail:

"I don’t believe it will be a true iPad-Mac hybrid, but the device will have elements of both. By the time 2028 rolls around, iPadOS should be advanced enough to run macOS apps …"

It's hard to tell if Gurman is being serious or not, but it would be amazing if this folding iPad (and maybe other iPads) could run Mac software, 9to5Mac shares

Although the concept of foldable iPhones is being considered by the firm, it is possible that we will not see them until at least 2026.