The future foldable iPad from Apple delayed until 2029 due to technical challenges
The highly anticipated 18-inch foldable iPad from Apple may not debut until 2029, according to Mark Gurman’s reporting.
Originally set for release in 2028, the project—internally referred to as J312—faces several major engineering hurdles that are delaying its development.
Complex Technical Challenges
Apple is currently collaborating with Samsung Display to design a foldable OLED screen that can minimize the visible crease in the center. The future iPad will not have an external display: when closed, it will resemble a MacBook with two aluminum surfaces.
Once unfolded, it would offer a diagonal screen size similar to a 13-inch laptop.
However, several issues are still impeding progress:
- Weight: prototypes currently weigh 1.6 kg, compared to 0.6 kg to 1.3 kg for existing iPad Pro models.
- Cost and complexity: producing an 18-inch OLED screen is challenging and could drive the final price to around $3,000, which is three times more expensive than a 13-inch iPad Pro.
- Comparison: the concept is similar to the Huawei MateBook Fold, which is slightly lighter (1.5 kg) and priced at around $3,400—but it’s only available in China.
Aiming to Revive the iPad Market
This foldable model fits into a high-end repositioning strategy aimed at rejuvenating a declining iPad line. Sales have stagnated since a peak in 2021, despite several updates:
- iPad Pro: recently updated with the M5 chip,
- iPad Air: expected to transition to the M4 chip in 2026,
- Base iPad: planned migration to the A18 chip.
An Uncertain Project
According to Bloomberg sources, there is no guarantee that Apple will bring this product to market. The company has already shelved several significant projects in recent years, including its autonomous vehicle and a lighter version of the Vision Pro headset (codenamed N100).
If the project comes to fruition, this foldable iPad would mark Apple’s entry into the foldable large-format market, currently dominated by Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei, and Google.
As it stands, the future foldable iPad remains a costly and risky technological gamble, still far from mass production.
