Apple is testing a 9-inch foldable device with OLED display technology. It is unknown what device is exactly specified here if it is an iPhone and/or iPad, according to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo stated on Twitter that the company is “actively testing” a 9-inch device that houses a foldable screen and OLED technology, though it is unlikely to launch and could be just an experiment for future products.
“I think the priority order of sizes of Apple foldable product development is medium, large, & small. Apple is actively testing foldable OLED about 9″ (PPI between iPhone & iPad, adoption of TDDI). The test is to verify key technologies and may not be the final product spec.”
Kuo expected Apple to debut a foldable iPhone two years from now in 2024. However, he now says that he revised his prediction, meaning that Apple will release “its first foldable product” in 2025 which could be an iPhone/iPad hybrid or simply a foldable iPad:
“I expected Apple to launch a foldable iPhone as soon as 2024 in my reports last year, but now it’s clear this prediction needs to be revised. I predict Apple may launch its first foldable product in 2025 at the earliest, which may be a foldable iPad or a hybrid of iPad & iPhone.”
Kuo’s statements match Ross Young of DSCC’s report earlier this year. Young stated that an Apple foldable device was scheduled to debut in 2023/2024 but is now pushed to 2025 at the earliest.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg also reported that Apple is working on a 2-in-1 foldable product that perhaps could be a MacBook/iPad hybrid and won’t feature a physical keyboard and trackpad.
