Apple Plans To Launch Foldable iPad in 2024, Analyst Says

Apple had planned to introduce a new iPhone in 2024, but with the launch of the iPhone 14, they have changed their mind and decided to release a foldable iPad instead.

The tech giant intended to conduct a dry run on high-tech foldable gadgets in the future, and now they have started experimenting with the iPads.

According to a published report by CCS Insight on Tuesday, Apple is expected to release the reported line of foldable iPads after two years instead of a foldable iPhone. In comparison, other phone manufacturers such as Samsung, had also released foldable phones instead of tablets.

“Right now it doesn’t make sense for Apple to make a foldable iPhone. We think they will shun that trend and probably dip a toe in the water with a foldable iPad,” Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight, told CNBC in an interview. “A folding iPhone will be super high risk for Apple. Firstly, it would have to be incredibly expensive in order to not cannibalize the existing iPhones,” he added.

According to the analyst, a foldable iPhone would most probably cost around $2,500. The new iPhone 14 Pro Max with the largest storage that's, as of now, the most expensive version, ends up costing approximately $1,599.

Wood mentioned that if Apple encounters technical problems with the foldable phone, it will be exposed to a 'feeding frenzy,' with tech critics blaming Apple for the said issues. Still, Apple has “no option but to react because the trend toward foldables is gathering momentum,” he said.

Wood also stated that designing a foldable iPad rather than an iPhone would allow the company to learn how to properly develop and scale foldable technology while also introducing a new member to the current iPad lineup.

Ross Young, a display analyst, reported that Apple is running tests on the foldable iPad’s screen of about 20-inches in size, with the product expected to arrive on the market by 2027. Foldable technology has really become increasingly popular over the years, with manufacturers such as Samsung releasing lines of them like the Samsung Fold.

Apple and LG were also said to be collaborating to create an ultra-thin glass cover for their foldable products. The overall shape of a foldable iPad is unknown, such as whether it will be a cool fusion of an iPhone and an iPad.