Apple's first foldable device could replace the popular iPad mini 'as early' as 2026

Apple’s first foldable device could replace the popular iPad mini ‘as early’ as 2026،

Did you know that Apple is the second most popular foldable brand in the United States? That's true, at least according to a survey conducted almost a year ago… even though the Cupertino-based tech giant wasn't involved at the time in the market segment dominated by Samsung, a situation which has not changed. this date and is not expected to change until 2026 at the earliest.

That's right, if a much-demanded foldable “iDevice” were ever to be released, it's unlikely to happen for at least two years. In line with previous speculation on the subject, a hot new report from South Korea (translated here) today predicted that Apple's rival effort, the Galaxy Z Fold, will be marketed as a foldable iPad rather than an “iPhone Fold,” although the lines between the two categories could be blurred and come closer to the total disappearance.

Is the iPad mini on its way out?

Elec's “industrial” sources certainly seem to think so, but it is clear that nothing is set in stone yet and Apple itself may not have thought that far… very seriously for 'moment.

But if the very first foldable iPad is indeed in the “late 7-inch to early 8-inch” range, ditching the “traditional” iPad mini might make sense. After all, Samsung also isn't selling something with a screen size very close to the 7.6-inch Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Apple's first foldable device could be slightly larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (pictured here in all its glory).

Of course, an obvious obstacle to such a potential change in strategy on Apple's part is the price of this totally mysterious “iPad Fold”, which we are absolutely sure will exceed the price of an iPad mini by 8, 3 inches (2021) from here a lot. Then there's the small detail of a next-generation iPad mini reportedly being prepped with an OLED display as we speak, which makes us extremely doubtful that Apple could end the undeniably successful family of compact tablets in just two or three years. .

Last but not necessarily least, a foldable Apple product with, say, a 7.7- or 7.9-inch main screen looks like it could step on the iPhone Pro Max's toes as much as the iPad mini's, especially when you also consider the higher prices of the largest and most advanced iOS handsets on the market.

This also means that this foldable device supposedly launching in 2026 or 2027 isn't really guaranteed to be announced as an iPad in the first place. Instead, we could actually be talking about the first ever foldable iPhone here without even realizing it… or maybe Apple is planning to carve out a whole new niche for itself and call this thing something else.

Not the only foldable in Apple's pipeline

Before you even think about asking about it, there's currently no word on a clamshell alternative to Apple's Galaxy Z Flip. Instead, what the company could be considering is a gargantuan second foldable product of around 20 inches, likely to come out at some point after the 7.5-8.5 inch device discussed above .

This doesn't exactly sound like a mobile enthusiast's dream, not to mention it looks like something that could cost about as much as a good car, but for some reason Apple seems to be prioritizing this project in largely a secret rather than a not-too-much project. foldable and expensive to help the company challenge Samsung in a rapidly expanding global market full of potential.

Apple's second foldable product could be even larger than the 16.3-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

Samsung, of course, will most likely help Apple launch its first foldable device by providing it with the best possible displays, although LG may also get in on that mix to a greater or lesser degree.

While it's unclear how all of this other information relates, today's The Elec report also claims that Apple “will make changes to the iPhone in 2027″… without going into any detail. iPhones will be 20 years old in three years, so a larger (more than usual) upgrade or overhaul could certainly happen then, but it's far too early to know what we might be dealing with on the big anniversary of the phone family.