Waiting For Apple's Foldable Phone? You Might Get A Folding Tablet Instead; Here's Why

Apple announced the iPhone 15 series in India in September. And speculations around its foldable offerings continue to brew excitement. While you might be waiting for a folding iPhone, supply chain sources claim the company is working on a folding iPad, according to a report from DIGITIMES Asia.

The tech giant is reportedly working with suppliers on this small-scale project, the production of which could materialise at the end of 2024. Considering this timeline, the announcement could follow somewhere at the end of next year or early 2025. This could be the tech giant's official entry into the foldable market.

Also Read: Apple Pencil 2023: Apple's New 'Most Affordable' USB-C Pencil For iPad Starts From Rs 7,900 In India; Check Features, Availability

DIGITIMES added that the next iteration will be none other than the much-awaited foldable iPhones. The sources cited in the report claimed that the California-based tech maker has been working on this technology for around four years with frequent design alterations. Apple is reportedly in discussions with Samsung and LG for display units.

A reader must note the company has not given any official hints at a possible folding device in the future. (Image:Unsplash)

As per the report, the maker is currently working to decrease the noticeable impression of the crease on these models. Plus, a more cost-effective design for mass production is also being probed, which may include reducing the moving parts and decreasing production costs.

Also Read: Apple 2023 iPad Release Date: New Generation iPads May Get Launched On October 17; All About Apple's Upcoming Tablets

Why Not Foldable iPhone First?

Two possible reasons were gauged by the media outlet. First is the in-house iPadOS and the company's dominance in the tablet market. Secondly, iPads bring in lesser cash flow for Apple compared to iPhones. Hence, in case issues pop up in the first-generation model, the affected user base will be less in comparison. On a related note, there were reports that the company could announce the 2023 iPad models this month, which did not materialise.

A reader must note the company has not given any official hints at a possible debut of a folding device in the future. Speaking of the foldable phone market in general, OnePlus announced its foldable handset - the OnePlus Open in India on October 19. Samsung, Tecno, and Motorola are other players competing in this space. You can read more about the OnePlus Open here.