The 18-inch folding iPad might not happen for a while—if ever

Macworld

With all signs pointing to the release of the first folding iPhone next year, the next folding device on Apple’s schedule was expected to be the equally long-rumored folding iPad. However, a new report claims that it might not arrive for another five years.

According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s giant folding iPad, expected to clock in at 18 inches unfolded, “has hit development hurdles” that put the release of the device in jeopardy. According to Gurman, engineers are concerned about the weight of the prototype devices (roughly 3.5 pounds) as well as the potential costs, which could be “roughly triple that of a 13-inch iPad Pro.”

The folding iPad (codenamed J312) is expected to feature a gigantic OLED display and open to roughly the size of the 13-inch MacBook Air. Gurman notes that the folding iPad likely won’t have an external display but will rather need to be opened like a MacBook to use. However, Gurman says the challenges presented by the prototypes make some people unsure whether it will ever see the light of day.

Apple is widely expected to unveil its first folding iPhone next September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It will reportedly feature a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.5-inch display when opened, as well as four cameras and a titanium alloy hinge. The iPad was expected to follow a year or two later, but now Gurman says the project has been pushed back to at least 2029.