Alongside an iPhone Fold expected to launch next year, Apple has long been reported to be working on a foldable iPad with an 18.8-inch display. There have, however, been very different estimates of the timeline for the product – and the latest report isn’t good news.

Estimates have so far ranged from late next year to sometime in 2028, and an analyst who previously expected a 2026 unveiling has now changed his mind …

iPad Fold with 18.8-inch display

Reports of the device date back to 2022, when display analyst Ross Young said he’d seen signs of a roughly 20-inch foldable in Apple’s supply chain. Given the timing, this most likely refers to suppliers being asked to quote rather than any production plans.

At the time, it wasn’t clear whether the device would be an iPad or a MacBook, with Young initially suggesting the latter. Apple has long been working on the eventual goal of a MacBook with a touchscreen keyboard that can pass the three tests required for a virtual device. Fellow analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thought the same thing when he too spotted evidence of a large folding display in the supply chain.

However, subsequent reports coalesced on the device being an iPad rather than a MacBook. Both analysts also subsequently said the diagonal screen size was 18.8 inches or 18.76 inches to be precise.

Conflicting reports of the release date

Both Kuo and Young initially expected the device to launch in late 2026. However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said it was going to be significantly later, arriving sometime in 2028.

Gurman backs the idea of it being an iPad rather than a MacBook, but does suggest it will be able to run some Mac apps. However, it appears that is simply because he expects this to be the case for all iPads by then.

• I don’t believe it will be a true iPad-Mac hybrid, but the device will have elements of both. By the time 2028 rolls around, iPadOS should be advanced enough to run macOS apps.

Pu now also predicts a 2028 launch date

It looks like anyone waiting impatiently for the device is going to be disappointed: Pu has now joined Gurman in expecting it to launch sometime in 2028.

While sticking to the line that it was originally supposed to launch next year, he now says in an investment note cited by MacRumors that it has been postponed until 2028.

• The 18.8-inch foldable device is likely to be postponed.

No explanation is offered.

Source: 9to5mac