Malcolm Owen
Apple is expected release a folding iPad before it ships a folding iPhone, with a bendable tablet likely to launch in 2024.
Foldable smartphones have existed on the market for a while, but while Apple is rumored to be developing its own offering, it may opt to ship an iPad with a flexible screen first.
In annual predictions from CCS Insight seen by CNBC, analysts forecast that Apple will launch a foldable iPhone in 2024, instead of starting with a foldable iPhone.
"Right now it doesn't make sense for Apple to make a foldable iPhone," said CCS Insight chief of research Ben Wood. "We think they will shun that trend and probably dip a toe in the water with a foldable iPad."
It is believed that a folding iPhone "will be a super high risk for Apple." Part of this could be Apple pricing it to be "incredibly expensive" to avoid cannibalizing existing iPhone sales.
It's reckoned that a foldable iPhone would have to cost around $2,500 to stand apart from the normal model and still be worthwhile to Apple.
There's also the danger of technical problems that could be a "feeding frenzy" for critics. Other companies have encountered issues with their initial foldable releases, which Apple would be keen to avoid.
Despite the risks, Wood says Apple has "no option but to react because the trend toward foldables is gathering momentum." Going for a foldable iPad would be an educational release for Apple, since it would be able to learn how best to implement and scale the technology.
In other predictions about Apple, CCS said Apple will continue to invest in its own chip design, and will most likely integrate a self-designed 5G modem into a "single-chip" solution in 2025.
"They (Apple) have been shooting for this target for years," said Wood. "They acquired the assets from Intel of the modem unit, they have been working hard to ramp that up, they are very keen to make sure they keep growing their control points they have."
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5 Comments
Nothing burger here. The analyst thinks Apple has "no option but to react because the trend toward foldables is gathering momentum". So there isn't any actual supply chain insight that could point to this. Just this person's feelings.
Ross Young is going to know if Apple is going to make a folding iPad. Apple is going to ask Samsung or LG for 10 million OLED panels at 264 PPI. They'll need to 2 years to build a plant to output that many and get it working with enough yield.
And no news on how Apple is going to make the display surface feel like oleophobic glass?
At least the double thickness of a folded iPad wouldn’t be the pocket storage problem it would be for a double thick iPhone.
Why? Makes no sense, a big screen iMac, Mac Pro, a rackable Mac server or a mesh Apple router needs Apple’s attention more.
A tablet is for creative things. The absolutely bottom end LAST thing you would want is any kind of distortion or ripple down the middle of the screen.
Oh, AI seems to have cut short this interview with Ben Wood of CCS Insight. Allow me to add what he said after his foldable iPad prediction: "We see the trend towards water resistant and waterproof tech products continues gathering momentum, so we think Apple will have no choice but to offer an IPX8-rated iMac, submersible to a depth of one meter or more, and also expect to see that roll out in 2024. This should alleviate concerns around using the iMac while bathing or during sweaty workouts."
Sound stupid? Of course it does, I made it up. But it doesn't sound any more stupid than Wood's prediction of or justification for a folding iPad in two years, the Apple product for which absolutely no one is asking.