Apple is reportedly developing an 18.8-inch foldable device that may serve as either an iPad or a MacBook, with a prototype featuring Face ID technology integrated beneath the display, according to a leaker.
Details on the foldable display
Multiple supply-chain sources have indicated Apple’s work on an 18.8-inch folding display, although opinions vary regarding whether it is intended for an iPad Pro or a MacBook. Display analyst Ross Young initially noted Apple’s interest in a larger 20.x-inch display for a MacBook, suggesting it could create a new category for Apple as a dual-use product that functions as both a notebook with a full-size keyboard when folded and as a monitor when opened.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo identified evidence of a large folding display in the supply chain, stating it measured 20.3 inches diagonally and was aimed at a MacBook. However, Kuo later adjusted this assessment to indicate that Apple was considering a slightly smaller 18.8-inch display, which Young corroborated by specifying the size as 18.76 inches, rounding it to 18.8 inches.
Leaker Digital Chat Station, known for accurate leaks about Apple products, recently disclosed that the prototype of the foldable device includes Face ID technology embedded within the display. This prototype reportedly integrates a metal superstructure lens that allows for under-screen 3D face recognition.
Foldable iPhone release date and pricing: 2026, starting at $2,000
While it is evident that Apple is experimenting with an 18.8-inch foldable display, it remains uncertain whether the device will function primarily as an iPad Pro or a MacBook. An all-display device leans towards the iPad category, which currently seems most likely. Nonetheless, Apple holds patents for an all-screen MacBook with a soft keyboard but faces significant challenges. These include ensuring comfort with a non-physical keyboard, simulating the sensations of a physical keyboard, and making it compatible with touch-typing.
Apple has devised potential solutions for these challenges dating back to 2018; however, successful implementation remains uncertain, especially given the unclear timelines for the device’s potential launch. Some speculate that Apple is working towards a hybrid device capable of running both macOS and iPadOS. Despite the existence of prototypes for such a device, Apple has consistently maintained that it considers macOS and iPadOS distinct products intended for different uses.
It is anticipated that in-display Face ID will debut in an iPhone before appearing in an iPad, although current timelines are vague enough for this to remain possible.
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