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Apple’s Foldable iPad Timeline Slips to 2029 or Later as Price Nears $3,000

Prototype weight near 3.5 pounds underscores unresolved display and design challenges.

Overview

  • Reports indicate Apple’s foldable iPad remains in development but the previously targeted 2028 launch has likely shifted to 2029 or beyond due to engineering hurdles.
  • Apple is said to be collaborating with Samsung Display on an approximately 18‑inch foldable OLED panel intended to reduce crease visibility.
  • Current prototypes reportedly omit an external cover screen and unfold into a laptop‑style, full‑screen layout roughly matching a 13‑inch notebook footprint.
  • The device is expected to carry a price around $3,000, reflecting the cost and complexity of its large foldable display and bespoke components.
  • One prototype referenced internally as J312 has drawn internal concerns about manufacturability and market fit, with comparisons made to Huawei’s lighter 18‑inch foldable sold in China.