Apple Foldable iPad release date expectations, price estimates, and upgrades
Foldable iPad concept. | Image by AppleInsider
Rumored upgrades:
- 18-inch or 20-inch OLED display – the exact size hasn't been pinned down yet
- Could function as a MacBook-iPad hybrid device
- Design not yet finalized internally
- May share its hinge technology with the foldable iPhone Ultra
Expected release timeline:
- 2028 or 2029, based on current industry reporting.
Expected price:
- Rumored to exceed $2,500, with some estimates pushing considerably higher.
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Foldable iPad release date
No confirmed release date exists for the foldable iPad. Current reporting points to 2028 or 2029 at the earliest.
| Device | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Foldable iPad | 2028-2029* | 2028-2029* |
*Probable dates
The device attracted considerable attention in 2025, when a cluster of leaks suggested it was closer to launch than most had expected. Reputable Apple insider Mark Gurman subsequently reported the project had been pushed back. Apple's immediate foldable focus is on its first foldable iPhone – expected to arrive under the iPhone Ultra name alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this fall – with the iPad following later, presumably.
Foldable iPad price
Apple consistently prices its products at the premium end of the market, and a foldable iPad would almost certainly continue that pattern.
Some reports have cited a starting price as high as three times the current 13-inch iPad Pro's $1,299 opening price – placing the foldable iPad somewhere above $3,000 if those estimates are in the right range.
Foldable iPad camera
No concrete camera details have emerged for the foldable iPad. iPad cameras have traditionally prioritized video calling over photography, and Apple has kept them capable enough for that primary use case across every generation.
For context, the current iPad Pro ships with a 12MP Center Stage ultra-wide front camera for video calls and a 12MP wide rear camera with adaptive True Tone flash, 5x digital zoom, and up to 4K60 video recording. Given the price the foldable iPad is expected to carry, a camera system at least comparable to that setup seems like a reasonable baseline.
Foldable iPad storage
A 256GB base tier seems like the minimum realistic starting point for the foldable iPad. If the device doesn't arrive until 2029 as some reports suggest, that floor could be higher by the time it actually ships. Tiers of 512GB and 1TB seem like safe assumptions above the base, with a 2TB option also plausible given the device's expected positioning.
Foldable iPad design
Most rumors point to a 20-inch foldable OLED panel (though, as noted above, an 18-inch version hasn't been ruled out either). Based on what we know so far, the device sounds like a hybrid between a massive iPad and a compact laptop – think something closer to the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, just bigger.
Apple's new iPad Pro. | Image by Apple
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the foldable iPad could feature a built-in kickstand constructed from carbon fiber.
There have also been indications that Apple is exploring under-display Face ID, with the transceiver and transmitter components tucked beneath the screen to eliminate any visible cutout. More recent rumors suggest this particular approach hasn't gone smoothly, though specifics on what went wrong remain unclear.
The device's overall form factor is, by all accounts, still being worked out – the design hasn't been locked in yet.
A newer report claims the foldable iPad may share its hinge design with the upcoming foldable iPhone (whether or not that phone ends up being called the iPhone Ultra). Sharing hinge technology across both products could help Apple deliver a similarly minimal crease on the larger iPad display.
Foldable iPad display
Apple is broadly expected to use a 20-inch hybrid OLED panel for its first foldable iPad. The distinction from a standard OLED is meaningful: hybrid panels are engineered to resist the creasing and edge distortion that can affect larger flexible screens under repeated folding cycles.
Durability has been a real concern for Apple with large-format displays before – it's part of the reasoning behind the company's choice of mini-LED over OLED for the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Reports indicate Apple may work with both LG and Samsung Display to source an ultra-thin cover glass for the panel.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has separately noted that Apple tested electronic paper display technology – comparable to E Ink – for potential use in future foldable devices, though no additional sources have corroborated that specifically.
Foldable iPad battery
No battery details have appeared in leaks for the foldable iPad. Given the expected physical size of the device, a large cell – potentially in the range of what a MacBook carries – wouldn't be out of place.
Full-day battery life is a reasonable baseline expectation for a device at this price point, though nothing has been confirmed.
Foldable iPad features and software
No leaks have indicated which operating system the foldable iPad will run. Given its hybrid nature, it's worth watching whether Apple leans toward iPadOS, macOS, or something purpose-built for a folding display form factor. If Apple categorizes it as an iPad – which seems most likely based on rumors – an adapted version of iPadOS designed around the folding screen would be the natural path.
As for specific features, what we have right now amounts to little more than a couple of patents pointing toward self-healing displays and crack-resistant foldable screens. Patents like these don't guarantee a real product, though, so take this with appropriate caution.
Apple Pencil support seems like a natural fit for a device of this size, and would be a reasonable expectation for a productivity-oriented foldable at this price tier.
Should I wait for the foldable iPad?
- You should wait for the foldable iPad if you already have everything you need from your current devices and are curious to see where this product ends up. The same reasoning applies if portability is a specific priority – folded, the device would likely be more compact than a standard MacBook or iPad Pro while potentially offering comparable processing power and productivity capabilities.
- You should not wait for the foldable iPad if you need a capable tablet or laptop replacement any time soon. The foldable iPad's existence hasn't been officially confirmed, its design isn't finalized, and the most optimistic timeline puts it at 2028 – with 2029 equally possible. Buying a current iPad Pro or MacBook today is the far more practical decision for anyone with an actual near-term need.
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