Apple's giant foldable iPad likely won't launch until 2028 — what we've heard
A research note from GF Securities lead analyst Jeff Pu (seen by MacRumors) claims that the iPhone 18 Fold is coming in 2026 and that he's seen "intact progress" in the supply chain.
"On the other hand," Pu wrote in the note, "the 18.8-inch foldable device is likely to be postponed." Apparently, he did not explain his reasoning behind the delay. The report does suggest that the Apple tablet will not enter mass production in late 2026.
It conflicts with Pu's own reports from April of this year saying that Apple would launch an iPhone Fold and an iPad Fold.
What form the device takes has largely settle around a gigantic foldable iPad with an 18.8-inch to 20-inch display that will act as an iPad-MacBook hybrid.
Here's the thing—that 2028 release date is not a new launch window for the foldable iPad.
Previously, a five year Apple roadmap leaked showing the 18.8-inch foldable device coming in 2028. This year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also claimed that the foldable tablet will launch three years from now.
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Gurman has also said that the foldable iPad will look like two iPad Minis side by side.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has gone back and forth, at various points suggesting 2026 or 2028 for the foldable iPad or the iPhone Fold.
Currently, most rumors point to Apple launching an iPhone Fold as part of the iPhone 18 series alongside the standard iPhone 18, an iPhone 18 Air and the iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026.
Reportedly, the iPhone Fold won't be "groundbreaking" but with Apple's marketing and brand loyalty, it mostly just needs to look good and work.
At one point the tablet was supposed to launch first, but it now seems the book-style foldable iPhone will beat it to market.
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