This is shaping up to be a big week for Apple’s 2026 launch cycle. The iPhone 17e, a low-cost Mac, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro updates, the base iPad, and a refreshed iPad Air are all on the wishlist and expected to make their way into this week’s announcements. But one launch that has been heavily speculated about, and is certainly not arriving this week, or even this year, is the foldable iPad.
While there have been reports of Apple planning to introduce a large iPad with a foldable form factor, a new report suggests we shouldn’t expect to see it anytime soon.
According to the latest edition of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, Apple has been developing a giant foldable iPad. However, the device is still facing several limitations, and it may not arrive before the end of the decade.
What is the foldable iPad?
The foldable iPad is often described as a large-screen device that would unfold into something closer to a Mac-sized display. However, despite the laptop-like screen size, Apple reportedly plans to position it firmly as an iPad. That means it would run iPadOS rather than macOS, reinforcing Apple’s long-standing strategy of keeping the Mac and iPad as separate product categories.
Bloomberg’s report suggests the device has faced multiple hurdles during development. One of the biggest concerns revolves around practicality, particularly typing on such a large foldable screen. While the idea of an expansive, portable display sounds appealing, ensuring that it works well for productivity without compromising usability appears to be a challenge.
The report notes that Apple’s plan for the foldable iPad is not centred around creating a true Mac-iPad hybrid. In fact, Apple executives have historically resisted merging the two platforms. Internally, the company believes combining the Mac and iPad into a single hybrid device could hurt sales, since both product lines generate significant revenue independently. Instead, Apple prefers offering features that allow the devices to complement each other, such as Sidecar and Continuity, rather than replacing one with the other.
The foldable iPad reportedly sits near the end of Apple’s 2020s roadmap. That suggests a launch timeline closer to 2029 or even 2030, assuming the product clears current engineering and usability obstacles. There’s also the possibility that the device could evolve significantly before launch, or, like many experimental projects, never make it to market at all.
But the foldable iPad isn’t the only highly anticipated device in the pipeline. Apple is also developing its first touch-screen MacBook Pro, expected to launch in late 2026. Even that device, however, won’t blur the lines between Mac and iPad as much as some might hope. The touch-enabled MacBook Pro will reportedly retain its traditional design, complete with a keyboard and trackpad, with touch serving as an optional input method rather than the primary interface.
There are also reports that Apple could introduce its first foldable iPhone, possibly arriving alongside a future iPhone launch event.
