All the foldable iPhone and iPad rumors we’ve heard so far

Apple is apparently working on other foldable devices. Let’s talk about it.

Rumors have been swirling around the internet for months (if not years) about Apple joining the fray that companies like Samsung have found success in the past few years. There have been so many rumors and empty speculations that it would be impossible to cover everything in one article, but the latest and most reliable reports point to two foldable devices coming out of Cupertino: the new iPhone and the new one. The iPad.

Without wasting any more time, let’s get inside. Here’s what we know about Apple’s first potential folders.

The foldable iPhone: What we know

We’ve been hearing about a foldable iPhone since at least 2021, but the latest reporting cycles have painted a clearer picture of what to expect from this device, and when we can expect it.

Back in February, The Information reported that Apple was working on a clamshell-style foldable iPhone. If you’re not familiar with the names, that would make it more similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series of phones, which fold into a very small form factor and unfold to roughly the size and shape of a standard smartphone. This is different from the Galaxy Z Fold’s form factor, which is roughly the size and shape of a standard smartphone when folded, and more like a small tablet when unfolded.

The latest reporting cycle from The Wall Street Journal in December confirmed this, suggesting that the new device’s display size will surpass that of the iPhone 16 Pro Max when unveiled. According to this report, this device could launch as early as 2026, but that is far from a guarantee yet. As always with unannounced concept devices, there’s always the distinct possibility that it never comes out at all.

However, where there is smoke, there is often fire. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (who is known to be right about Apple more often than not) also said in his Power On newsletter in December that a foldable iPhone could be launched in 2026. there may be more to this rumor.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much else to say specifically about the foldable iPhone yet. If these reports are to be believed, we may be almost two years away from seeing the device, let alone holding it in our hands. Relevant details like design, price, battery life, and special software features will have to wait until then.

The foldable iPad: What we know

The good news about the foldable iPad is that it’s both of the above The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reports revealed information on it, too, instead of a foldable iPhone. The bad news is that we don’t know much more about the iPad than we do about the iPhone.

A WSJ report revealed that Apple is working on a large device “intended to function like a laptop.” The display, when unveiled, would be around 19 inches in size, which is larger than the MacBook’s main display which is between four and five inches. This is almost in line with a previous report by Korean outlet Elec, which said that by 2022 Apple was working on a 20-inch foldable display for use in a laptop or tablet.

But is it a MacBook or an iPad? We don’t know for sure. The WSJ report suggested it would be closer to a laptop, but Gurman’s newspaper said it would be similar to a larger iPad and might run on iPadOS instead of macOS. The differences are huge, as iPadOS and macOS do not have the same feature set and are not compatible with the same operating systems completely.

It will be a while before we know, regardless. Gurman suggested that this large device will be launched in 2028, after the launch of the supposedly foldable iPhone. All of these reports also raise technical hurdles that need to be cleared, such as ensuring that these devices are as thin as possible and can lie flat when exposed. If rumors are to be believed, Apple has plenty of time to iron out those kinks before these products see the light of day.