It's rare for one of the countless product rumors and leaks to catch us by surprise because Apple has a predictable release pattern. Over the past week, one prediction has caught our attention: that Apple is considering a 20-inch foldable device.
One-half of the screen would turn into a virtual keyboard when the foldable is folded. I was rolling my eyes at the claims. There is enough evidence to suggest that Apple is considering such a device.
According to 9to5Mac, Ross Young said last week that Apple is researching the idea of foldable notebooks and that a foldable iPhone would be delayed until 2025. Mark Gurman, one of the most prolific Apple analysts, echoed the predictions after they came from a reliable source. He wrote in his newsletter that Apple is exploring a dual-screen, foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid that would ditch a physical keyboard for a fully touch-screen base.
The descriptions suggest a device similar to the upcoming Zenbook 17 Fold, which has a 17.3-inch panel that folds into two 12.5-inch screens. You can use the physical keyboard that ships with either model if the devices are folded in half.
We don't think Apple will go forward with these plans. The Touch Bar taught the company that touch inputs can be replaced by digital ones. If it does pursue a 20-inch foldable, it would likely be more of an iPad counterpart than a threat to the MacBook, a device that would be great for content consumption and occasional productivity.
In the short term, Apple is rumored to be working on a larger iPad Pro with anOLED display, something that will further blur the lines between tablets and laptops. While keeping the device at a reasonable size, a foldable screen could allow Apple to go even bigger. I'm curious to see what accessory or software magic Apple comes up with to improve the typing experience and make this mythical device better for productivity than the current iPad Pro. If you've tried using an on-screen keyboard before, you know how hard it is.
Even if Apple does move forward with a 20-inch foldable tablet, it won't be until the year 2077. Other manufacturers will have tested the waters and given Apple more information before it commits to foldable screens. It is rumored that Apple will learn from the foldable iPhone, which is expected to arrive between 2023 and 2025.
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