Halfway between a laptop and a tablet: the time may finally have come to see folding technology applied to an Apple screen.
NEWS by Luigi Cianciulli — 06/05/2024
In the anxious wait for Apple's announcements of the new iPads, scheduled for May 7, renowned journalist Mark Gurman of Bloomberg offers a preview of the company's prospects for the future of its hardware.
According to sources, Cupertino is aiming to evolve its tablets into authentic ones laptop replacementswhile Macs may soon integrate touchscreen technologymaking themselves more and more similar to iPads.
This mix focuses on the innovations of flexible displays: the goal would be to create a hybrid between tablet and notebook by 2025 and maybe even a foldable iPhone by 2026.
The news is not entirely unexpected, considering that already in 2022 Ross Young had suggested the development of a foldable hybrid with a 20-inch screen, expected for 2026 or 2027, while Gurman himself had hinted at the possibility of a hybrid MacBook/ Dual-screen foldable iPad.
It's Apple's turn
Rumors emerge about new devices with flexible screens: there is talk of a hybrid tablet-laptop in development, expected by 2026
So, we've been talking about the possibility of Macs having touch screens for a while now, and now it looks like it Apple is finally working on at least one laptop model with this feature.
However, it seems that the company has not yet decided on the size of the screen in question.
According to analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities (as reported by 9to5mac), Apple plans to start large-scale production of a device with 20.2 inch flexible screen towards the end of 2025.
At the same time, news emerges on the acceleration of developments relating to the first iPhones with the same technology.
Pu reveals that Apple is working on two formats, with 7.9 and 8.33 inch screens.
Apparently, the suspension of work on the development of MicroLED displays has given greater priority to these projects.
Ulta High-End
In the company's future there seems to be an intention to lead users to consider iPad and Mac as equivalent portable devices, as they will become more and more similar
From what has been announced, Samsung Displaythe main supplier of OLED screens to Apple and a pioneer in the development of flexible screens, has reportedly established a unit dedicated exclusively to designing displays for the Cupertino home.
This group, known as “A Team”, operates at the Giheung Research Institute in Yongin, South Korea, and is committed to supporting Apple in the transition to OLED technology across its entire range of devices, from the soon-to-be-announced iPads to MacBooks; it is likely that the next generation of devices with flexible screens will also be included in their work plan.
With the imminent integration of touch displays on Macs, people will be able to select their primary device based on personal preferences: choosing an all-in-one device like the MacBook or opting for a more flexible device like the iPad will not involve sacrifices and will offer a relatively interchangeable experience.
At the moment there is no information on its launch date on the market, but the prices of these devices should be considered they will not be accessible to everyone.
According to Pu, Apple's first foldable will be part of a “new line” aimed at the “ultra-high-end market.”
Of course, these previews should be taken with caution, as they have not been confirmed by other sources. However, they offer us an idea of Apple's commitment to this new sector.
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