Apple is working on a giant foldable device, which could be a version of the iPad Pro or a MacBook, as it is slated to feature an 18.8-inch screen. The confusion regarding the product arose when it became clear that the device would not be equipped with a dedicated physical keyboard. However, the fact that it could be folded like a laptop did not completely rule out the possibility of it being a MacBook. It is now being reported that the company's 18.8-inch foldable device will run macOS instead of iPadOS, making it a close relative to the MacBook lineup rather than the iPad.
Apple's bigger 18.8-inch MacBook-iPad hybrid will run macOS instead of iPadOS
It was recently reported that the company's first two foldable devices will enter mass production in the second half of next year, which means that the launch could take place by the end of 2026 or in the first half of 2027. In his latest research notes, analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities claims that the foldable device from Apple will run macOS (via MacRumors). The bigger foldable device would feature a display size of 18.8 inches while being described as a MacBook-iPad hybrid.
Before today, it was unclear what operating system the device would run, and Pu's claims are quite bold in this regard as they solely point to the MacBook. Mark Gurman recently claimed in his Power On newsletter that Apple's upcoming iOS 19 and macOS 16 will set the stage for new hardware designs, which include "foldable devices and touch-screen Macs." However, there have been no reports indicating that the touch-screen Mac will be launched as soon as next year.
Analyst Jeff Pu also cited a report from The Wall Street Journal as the basis for his information on foldable devices, which means that the macOS speculation regarding a foldable device could be derived from there. Apart from this, Pu also mentions that the foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch inner display. The analyst did not share additional details on the device or its availability.
Apple has always kept the iPad Pro and the MacBook at a distance, even though users have been demanding macOS on the iPad for a while. The demands are noteworthy to some extent, as the iPad now has raw power and desktop-class performance. It remains to be seen if the report has any heft to it, but for now, the idea seems pretty plausible. We will share more details on Apple's first foldable device running macOS, so be sure to stick around.
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