Apple's mysterious foldable device

With a foldable screen measuring nearly 19 inches, it's difficult to imagine how Apple will position this product in the market segment.

No one knows exactly what Apple's large foldable device will be. Photo: MacRumors .

In a new study of possible scenarios following tariffs on Apple, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu stated that both the 18.8-inch and 7.8-inch foldable devices are in development and are expected to enter mass production in Q4 2026.

Pu mentioned this earlier last month. At that time, he stated that Apple's first two foldable devices had entered the new product introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn. Depending on when mass production begins, the devices could launch at the end of next year or in 2027.

Several other reputable sources, which often cover Apple products and services, have also offered their own predictions about this giant foldable device.

Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman believes Apple is developing a foldable iPad with a 20-inch screen, set to launch in 2028, while analyst Ross Young expects a tablet-like foldable device to launch in 2026 or 2027.

Therefore, the release date remains uncertain. Additionally, there are conflicting reports about how this device will fit into Apple's existing product line. Jeff Pu suggests it's a hybrid device between a MacBook and an iPad, featuring a touchscreen and macOS support.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo calls Apple's large foldable device a MacBook, while Ross Young also suggests Apple is developing an 18.8-inch foldable laptop. In December 2024, the Wall Street Journal revealed Apple was developing a 19-inch MacBook with a foldable screen.

Conversely, Gurman referred to Apple's large foldable screen device as the iPad, aligning with predictions from research firm Omdia.

According to MacRumors , whether a large foldable device is an iPad or a Mac computer depends on its operating system. If it runs on macOS, it belongs to the Mac family. Conversely, if it comes with iPadOS pre-installed, it is an iPad.

Gurman claims that the design Apple adopted in iOS 19 and macOS 16 aims to unify the operating systems, paving the way for foldable devices and touchscreen Macs. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that this mysterious product is a hybrid device, unlike anything seen before.

Source: https://znews.vn/thiet-bi-gap-bi-an-cua-apple-post1544870.html