Why a Larger Foldable iPad May Be the Wrong Move for Apple
The article responds to Apple’s recent foldable iPhone reveal and rumors that the company might create a larger folding device. It argues that an iPad Duo would overlap with existing products, complicate iPadOS development, and offer little benefit over a compact laptop. It also notes that foldable tablets have struggled commercially, with few manufacturers pursuing the category beyond limited releases.
Apple’s foldable iPhone arrived roughly a month before this piece, following years in which the company reached a $1 trillion valuation in 2018, later grew into a $3 trillion brand, expanded into services and spatial computing, and shelved its car project. Reported possibilities include a smart ring, a screenless watch aimed at fitness-tracker rivals, and a single-screen foldable laptop inspired by the iPhone Duo.
A larger folding iPad would likely overlap with current devices and burden iPadOS developers. Rival foldable tablets remain rare: Huawei’s MateBook Fold was expensive and China-only, while Lenovo positions its ThinkPad X1 Fold more as a laptop. Aspect-ratio tradeoffs between closed and open states further complicate such a product.
If Apple pursued a larger foldable iPad, consumers could face more overlapping choices rather than clear benefits, while app developers may need to adapt interfaces to unusual aspect ratios. Manufacturers might see little incentive to expand foldable tablets, leaving the category niche. Apple’s broader ecosystem partners and iPad buyers may be most affected, as resources could shift toward a device that competes with laptops and existing tablets. The impact would likely remain limited unless the product solved portability and software problems.