Apple Collaborating With LG to Develop iPads and MacBooks With Foldable OLED Displays and Ultra-Thin Cover Glass

Apple is collaborating with LG to develop a foldable OLED display panel with ultra-thin cover glass for future iPad and MacBook models, according to a report from The Elec.

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The report explains that LG Display will supply 17-inch foldable 4K OLED panels to HP this year, destined for an in-folding notebook with an 11-inch display when closed. LG Display has growing expertise in foldable OLED displays, having supplied the 13.3-inch display panel for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

The Elec claims that alongside its foldable OLED notebook panel for HP, Apple is collaborating with LG Display "to develop another foldable OLED panel." This panel will purportedly use an ultra-thin cover glass instead of polyimide, which most other foldable displays currently use.

The report is the second dependable sign from Apple's supply chain that large foldable devices are in development, since The Elec's claim appears to line up with a recent report from display analyst Ross Young, which said that Apple is exploring all-screen foldable notebooks with displays around 20-inches in size.

Young said that these devices could form a whole new product category for Apple and result in a dual-use product, potentially able to work as a notebook with a full-size on-screen keyboard when folded and as a monitor when unfolded and used with an external keyboard. The devices feature 4K resolutions or higher at the size Apple is investigating, Young added.

While Young described the device as a "foldable notebook," it seemed plausible at the time that the all-screen device could actually be a foldable ‌iPad Pro‌, and today's report from The Elec's clarifies that the display panel in development is suitable for both tablets and notebooks.

According to Young, the launch timeframe for Apple's foldable notebook is "likely later" than 2025, with 2026 or 2027 being floated as reasonable possibilities.

Top Rated Comments

Danfango Avatar
16 months ago
If foldable displays have even a 5% market share in 2030, I will buy a hat and eat it.

The idea is stupid for so many reasons from engineering to aesthetic to simple HCI.

I suspect this is an April fool but you just can’t tell now.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeLaSoul Avatar
16 months ago
Please Tim Apple give us a foldable Apple Watch that unfolds into K.I.T.T.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Iliketheapples Avatar
16 months ago
APRIL FOOLS APPLE ONLY CARES ABOUT DONGLES AND CHRONIC INCOMPATIBILITY.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Berti10 Avatar
16 months ago
„Episode II - Return Of The Touchbar“
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
16 months ago
As fascinating as ‘foldable’ technology seems to likely be part of our future, it’s hard to be excited about this, because I think the price point will probably be overwhelming for the majority of consumers and how practical in terms of functionality will it actually be considering the high price that likely follows.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
16 months ago
After reading this article I threw my iPad Pro in the garbage, Apple please release this quickly!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)