Apple foldable with 18.8-inch display might launch with an Amazon rival
Over the past few months, one of the more intriguing Apple-related leaks has revolved around the company's ongoing development of foldable devices. Not only is Apple rumoured to launch its first-ever foldable phone with a 7.8-inch internal display in 2026, but the company is also said to be working on a massive 18.8-inch foldable iPad or laptop — or whatever Apple eventually decides to market it as when the product finally launches.advertisementIn the latest development, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that Amazon is also internally testing a similar large-screen device. If all goes according to plan, the device could enter production in late 2026 or 2027.
Source: Ming Chi Kuo/ X (formerly Twitter)
In the same post, shared via X (formerly Twitter), Kuo also noted that Apple's large-screen foldable is now expected to enter production in late 2027 or 2028.
For those unfamiliar with the project, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman discussed Apple's large foldable in his newsletter back in December. He wrote, 'Apple designers are developing something akin to a giant iPad that unfolds into the size of two iPad Pros side-by-side. The Cupertino, California-based company has been honing the product for a couple of years now and is aiming to bring something to market around 2028, I'm told Last week, a document alleging to show Apple's display plans was posted on X. It indicated the iPhone maker aims to use an 18.8-inch foldable screen between 2028 and 2030. That generally lines up with what I've heard about an Apple foldable computer.'advertisementEven Gurman isn't entirely certain whether the product will be marketed as a giant iPad or a foldable MacBook. That said, if you want a rough idea of how this kind of device might actually look — you don't have to wait three to five years.The Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate is a thin and light laptop with a massive 18-inch OLED display that folds in half, similar to how we are used to seeing on foldable phones. Quite literally, in one of its use cases, you can open it like a giant digital magazine and use both screens side by side.Then again, this is Apple we're talking about. The company has never aimed to be first with the latest tech — instead, it waits, refines, and releases a version that is often the most polished and user-ready on the market.As for Amazon, while it's interesting to hear they're working on a similar device, the company doesn't exactly have a glowing track record when it comes to hardware success in the consumer space. Still, it's an intriguing avenue — and given how few options there are in this segment right now, it's clear there's a gap waiting to be filled. Whether the mainstream market will be ready for this kind of form factor in a few years is something only time will tell.Will Apple succeed? Historically, its user base has been quick to adopt new form factors when the company gets them right. And while a device like the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate — as capable as it is — is only available in China, Apple entering the scene is bound to change the landscape. As for Amazon, we'll just have to wait and see.
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