Apple may delay a large folding iPad until 2029. The report says the device faces tough engineering problems with its big foldable display and with its weight. The work to make a crease-free and light product has become harder than expected.
Apple had long been desiring to send a large folding tablet before too. This had been set at 2027 or 2028 as previous reports indicated. The new account indicates that those plans are slipping due to technical and cost problems. The end product might also be significantly higher than an ordinary iPad Pro.
The problem revolves around the screen. Apple is reportedly collaborating with one of the large display manufacturers to create an 18-inch flexible panel. Building a very large foldable OLED that resists creasing and that has long-term reliability is hard and expensive. Samsung Display and other makers have shown large flexible panels, but scaling that work for mass production is complex.
Prototypes are also heavy. Engineers worry that a foldable iPad that folds to a laptop-like thickness may still weigh more than users will accept. Some prototypes reportedly weigh more than three pounds. That is far heavier than current iPad Pro models and could push the device closer to laptop weight. The added weight makes the product less easy to hold for long reading or drawing sessions.
Apple may also face very high costs. The report says the foldable iPad could approach $3,000 retail if Apple decides to ship it. That price would place the device well above the current 13-inch iPad Pro and close to some folding products already on the market. High price will limit the buyers who can justify a purchase at launch.
Development hurdles
Apple has long filed patents and run experiments for flexible screens and novel hinges. Patents show many different ways Apple has tried to reduce crease risk and to protect the display layers. The patents do not promise a product timeline. A patent can point to ideas that need years of work before they are ready for shops.
Reports within the past year were mixed in terms of timing. A foldable device was anticipated by some analysts and observers by 2027 or 2028. The new account indicates that these timelines were rosy. Difficult components, test failures, and new manufacturing stages may delay the projects by a quarter. Apple tends to postpone or cancel projects when the gadget will not be able to achieve its quality objectives.
Manufacturing a large foldable display demands new production yield levels. A single defect can ruin many panels. That pressure raises unit cost and pushes Apple to keep testing. The company also wants the hinge and the case to be light and durable. That combination is technically demanding.
What this means
An early release of 2029 would change Apple strategy on big tablets. The firm can continue relying on more traditional iPad Pro updates as it perfects foldable technology. The duration of such a delay would also allow competitors to roll out and perfect the large foldable tablets first. With Apple, it will not venture into a category until it can provide a unique experience or a definite benefit.
In case the product is priced highly when it is introduced to the market, Apple can position the product as a niche product among power users. The cost can also decrease with time when the yields are better and when the suppliers increase production. Smaller foldable formats or rollables would also be a side test that Apple may be doing at the same time. The company possesses numerous patents that refer to numerous approaches.