Apple has a prototype of an 18.8-inch iPad Pro in the works

Apple will launch its foldable iPhone in 2026, or that’s what the rumors are claiming. But Apple’s ambitions aren’t stopping there. According to leakster Digital Chat Station, they posted on Weibo that Apple will follow up its foldable iPhone with a foldable iPad that is expected to launch in 2027.

Foldable iPad Pro prototype in the works

According to the leakster, Apple is already working on a foldable iPad Pro prototype, which in its current iteration, features an 18.8-inch display. This would make it Apple’s largest iPad to date. It also makes it larger than any MacBook Apple has released to date. The foldable iPad prototype is also rumored to feature a “metal superstructure lens” that connects the transmitter and receiver components of a facial recognition system. This system is hidden under the display, making it an improvement over Face ID.

One of the criticisms Apple has faced over its implemention of Face ID is that it’s quite obvious it’s there. Apple started with the notch, but later moved to Dynamic Island. Dynamic Island has its uses, but the fact that it’s still pretty obvious hasn’t sat well with many iPhone users. If this under-display facial recognition system rumor is accurate, maybe Apple could bring the same system to its iPhones as well.

Slow and steady

Unlike many other smartphone makers, such as Samsung, Oppo, and Honor, Apple has taken its time bringing its foldable to the market. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that the reason is because Apple wants to create a foldable without a crease. The Oppo Find N5 is currently the foldable to beat for a near-creaseless display, so we have to wonder how much better it can get.

Apple’s slow and steady approach has seen mixed success. For instance, Apple Intelligence was late to the market compared to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Galaxy AI. However, when it launched it wasn’t exactly a resounding success.

Another example is Apple Maps. Apple had long included Google Maps with its iPhones, but later tried to introduce its own take. It ended in disaster. Will Apple repeat its failures with its foldable? At a rumored price of $2,000 for its foldable iPhone, it’s a tough sell. We’d hate to think how much this foldable iPad will cost, but hopefully, Apple gets it right this time.