Apple may launch a 20-inch foldable tablet in 2026, report

Apple is working on a foldable device with a 20-inch display that may launch sometime in 2026, said Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his weekly newsletter. Gurman attributed this to supply-chain checks cited by Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants.  

Gurman believes Apple could go with a foldable 20-inch screen attached to a physical keyboard or just have one side of the display serving as a virtual keyboard.  

“I’m told Apple has indeed been exploring a dual-screen, foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid. It would trade in the physical keyboard and trackpad for a fully touch-screen base,” he added. The device has been under development for the last 2 years, points out Gurman.  

Devices with foldable screens have started to see a lot more traction. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), shipment of foldable smartphones is expected to cross 4 million units in 2021 as compared to 1.9 million units shipped in 2020. IDC is expecting the market to grow to 13.9 million units by 2025. Samsung reportedly sold 2 million units of its various foldable smartphones in 2021.  

Apple is expected to join the bandwagon in 2023 with a foldable iPhone. Microsoft too is said to be working on a foldable device with a large screen that can fold three times as compared to the existing lot that folds twice like a book. Microsoft has already received a patent from the US patents office for the triple-folding screen device, according to Patently Apple.  

Apple’s 20-inch foldable device will be a big boost for the segment, which is all about offering a larger tablet-like screen in the form factor of a smartphone when unfolded. With this device, Apple will offer a laptop or monitor like display experience in the form factor of a tablet. This would make carrying a large screen device a lot easier for users.