Foldable smartphones are no longer just a concept, and it looks like Apple could step into the foldable device space with a foldable iPad, not just an iPhone as previously predicted. Analysts at CCS Insight believe that Apple may release an iPad with a folding screen in 2024.
Speaking to CNBC, CCS Insight chief research officer Ben Wood said: “ It doesn't make sense for Apple to make a foldable iPhone right now. We think they will avoid this trend and possibly test the water with a foldable iPad, ” he said, and continued: “ A folding iPhone would pose a very high risk to Apple. Because they would have to be incredibly expensive. "
Samsung is following a similar price pattern where its foldable smartphones are priced much higher than its flat-screen flagship smartphone. However, with the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Flip series, Samsung continued to develop its foldable technology. Currently, the South Korean company dominates both the technology and consumer market of foldables.
The analyst thinks that if Apple produces a foldable iPhone, it will likely be priced around $2,500 . The most expensive iPhone 14 Max Pro with 1TB of storage currently costs $1,599. Wood says Apple will get a chance to implement and scale its foldable display technology, giving "new life" to the iPad lineup.
Earlier, a report by Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) suggested that Apple would enter the foldable smartphone market in 2025. The report stated that Apple seems to be in no rush to enter the foldable market, and the company is also quite optimistic about foldable technology.
Also, Apple may be working on a foldable laptop that could become a new product category.
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also claimed that Apple is testing Electronic Paper Display (Electronic Paper Display - EPD) for the cover screens and tablets of future foldable devices, potentially mainstreaming foldable devices thanks to EPD's excellent power efficiency. He said he thought there might be a solution.