Back in May, Apple debuted the M4 iPad Pro, which pioneered the incredible tandem OLED displays (marketed as the Ultra Retina XDR display) that allow for exceptional brightness levels, contrast ratios, and color accuracy. This new iPad Pro is certainly ahead of its time and it paves the way for Apple’s future tablets to come. But that’s just the beginning as Apple is planning even more exciting things in the iPad product category. One of the biggest stories from analyst firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) is that Apple is developing a future foldable iPad that’s even larger than the existing iPad Pro.
The source expects the upcoming tablet to feature an 18.8-inch OLED display. If anything, if Apple were to market this exciting new form factor, the company would have to give it a new name. Therefore, since it’s going to be larger and more advanced with its foldable design, a more fitting name to tout this tablet would be the “iPad Ultra” as the “Ultra” always sits above the “Pro” moniker in the lineup. We have the Ultra Retina XDR display, Apple Watch Ultra, and even the M4-series Ultra chips.
Foldable devices have been relatively new in the market, and the biggest compromise they have is that they have a crease in the middle that doesn’t appear as continuous as a single slab of glass on a smartphone or tablet. Plus, they’re generally more expensive. As foldable technology improves and is cheaper to produce, Apple is waiting until then to produce the ultimate form factor that eliminates the crease, making the device as seamless as possible. Although rumors have been unclear on what operating system this foldable tablet would run, I’m willing to bet that it could run iPadOS since that is a touch-first interface, but Apple could surprise us by showcasing upcoming advanced iPadOS features that take full advantage of the larger canvas, perhaps a “Pro” version of iPadOS that is more reminiscent of macOS. Anyone can dream, right?
Other sources have reported about this device too. Wall Street Journal said the foldable might “serve as a laptop” while Bloomberg indicated the past weekend that this massive table may debut in 2028. On the other hand, DSCC expects this upcoming product to launch as early as 2027, and Apple is also working to bring OLED displays to the iPad mini in 2026 and the iPad Air in 2027.
So keep your eyes peeled as we get more news on the future iPads.
