Apple could release its first foldable device in the next few years, which could prove to be a 7- to 8-inch device that could be a replacement for the company’s 8.3-inch iPad mini, according to a claim by Korean news outlet The Elec. According to the report, Apple is considering a launch timeframe for the device between 2026 and 2027.
That said, Apple is also developing an OLED iPad mini, so there is some uncertainty in Apple internally about the final specifications of the foldable device.
Samsung Display and LG Display have reportedly been submitting samples of 7-inch and 8-inch foldable panels to Apple since last year.
Samsung is said to be the more likely primary supplier of a foldable panel of the two if Apple decides on a 2026 release.
Apple, Samsung Display, and LG Display are also said to have “different ideas” about the ultra-thin glass material, foldable panel cover window, and the hinge concept. These differences reportedly involve differing concerns about product durability and reliability.
Once mass production begins, Samsung is expected to manufacture the foldable panel in the 6th generation A3 or A4 OLED line that it uses to manufacture OLED panels for Apple’s iPhones.
The report also claims that Apple is also working on a larger 20.5-inch foldable product that would be released later than the 7- to 8-inch device.
In October, DigiTimes said that its supply chain sources indicate that Apple is working with suppliers on the development of the foldable iPad, with small-scale production scheduled as soon as the end of 2024. The publication says Apple could debut the device by late 2024 or early 2025 if progress on the project remains steady.
In January 2023, Display analyst Ross Young said Apple is developing a 20.5-inch foldable notebook that could hit shelves as soon as 2025.
(Via MacRumors)