Apple could launch its first foldable in the form of a new iPad as soon as next year, a CCS Insight analyst claims.
According to the report, Apple plans to treat the future iPad variant as a way to widely test foldable technology before adopting it on the iPhone. In an interview with CNBC, CCS Insight Chief Analyst Ben Wood, said that it "doesn't make sense for Apple to make a foldable iPhone" in the current climate. "We think they will shun that trend and probably dip a toe in the water with a foldable iPad," he added.
Apple is believed to be testing a foldable device with a display around 20-inches in size, according to reliable display analyst Ross Young, who expects the device to hit the market in 2026 or 2027. As such, CCS Insight's may be overly optimistic in terms of timing – but multiple reports corroborate the rumor that Apple will launch a foldable iPad before a foldable iPhone.
Foldable devices have slowly grown in popularity, with companies like Samsung having released multiple foldable devices in recent years. Apple is said to be working with LG to create an ultra-thin cover glass that could be used on the company's future foldable products. The exact form factor of the foldable iPad, including whether it would be a hybrid between an iPhone and an iPad, remains unknown.
