A foldable iPad will likely land before a foldable iPhone

iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) on table
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) (Image credit: Future)

It seems almost inevitable that Apple will one day release a foldable iPhone, but it now looks increasingly likely that we’ll see a foldable iPad first.

The latest news on this front comes from Mark Gurman (via Phone Arena), who in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter claimed that Apple’s first foldable product will be a foldable iPad.

This is something we’ve heard before, with supply chain sources saying back in 2023 that a foldable iPad would launch before a foldable iPhone, probably in late 2024 or early 2025. Then, another source more recently claimed that it was unclear whether Apple’s first foldable would be a phone or a tablet, and just days ago a supply chain source stated that Apple’s first foldable is a “larger device” like a tablet or laptop.

Now, rumors of a foldable iPhone do persist too, but the consensus among recent leaks seems to be that this will land after a foldable iPad.

Too fragile for a phone

Gurman for his part added that the reason we haven’t seen any foldable devices from Apple yet is that issues such as their fragility and screen creases are unacceptable to the company. So if and when we do see a foldable iPhone, it will presumably be quite a lot more durable and polished than the best foldable phones of today.

That could also explain why we might see a foldable iPad first, since fragility is arguably less of an issue for tablets – which aren’t kept in pockets or typically taken everywhere with you.

As for when we might see either device, the most recent leaks suggest we could see a foldable iPad in 2025, followed by a foldable iPhone in September 2026. So don’t expect any foldable device from Apple this year.

As ever with leaks we’d take all of this with a pinch of salt though, especially as we’re talking about products that are probably over a year away. However, there have been noticeably more foldable iPhone and iPad leaks lately, which suggests they might at least be edging closer to launch.

You might also like

TOPICS

James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

Read more
A folding iPad concept, with an Apple Pencil magnetically attached to the top edge.
Apple’s foldable iPhone specs hinted at in fresh leak – here are 5 things to expect
Foldable iPhone concept image
Foldable iPhone: latest rumors, news and everything we know so far
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Apple is rumored to have taken another key step towards making a foldable iPhone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in Paris in front of the Louvre pyramid
The foldable iPhone could have a surprisingly small cover screen, but I’m not convinced
Foldable iPhone
New foldable iPhone rumors predict Apple’s bold plans – here are 6 things to expect, from cameras to launch date
iPad mini 2021
Huawei might have beaten Apple to the folding phone finish line by creating a foldable 'iPad mini'
Latest in iPad
iPad Air M3 11-inch and 13-inch on an orange background next to TechRadar deals price cut badge
Wait, what? The brand-new iPad Air just launched and it's already on sale on Amazon
Three photos of the iPad Air M3 and its camera
iPad Air M3 review roundup – should you buy Apple's new mid-range tablet?
iPad Pro 13-inch 2024 on a table
The OLED iPad Pro is reportedly less popular than expected – and that could mean these changes to Apple's OLED iPad plans
iPad Air M3
The new iPad Air M3 is good value – but I’d still buy this iPad Pro model instead
iPad Air M3 on a green background next to TechRadar big savings badge
Get the brand-new iPad Air (M3) from just $249 at Best Buy with a trade-in
The new Apple iPad (A16)
Even without Apple Intelligence, the new iPad is still one of the best tablets you can buy
Latest in News
European Union technical background
EU tech companies push for digital sovereignty, reducing reliance on US and others
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic remake developer Saber Interactive states all its projects are 'still in development'
google nest
Google is slowly phasing out its Assistant helper to make room for Gemini's reign in smartphones - here’s how it’s doing the same for smart home devices
Renault 5 Turbo 3E
Renault unveils its wildest EV to date and it comes with in-wheel motors and a rally-style vertical handbrake for drifting
Circular smart ring
Circular's new smart ring is getting blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring before the Apple Watch
Gemini on a mobile phone.
Worryingly, Google Gemini’s new AI image generation features can be used to remove watermarks from images and I'm concerned