October 22, 2025
Apple’s ambitious project to launch a foldable iPad featuring an approximately 18-inch display is reportedly facing serious development hurdles, raising the possibility of a delayed release. According to multiple people familiar with the matter, the device, which had been tentatively aimed for a 2028 debut, is increasingly likely to be postponed to 2029 or later.
At the heart of the challenge is the large foldable OLED panel being developed in partnership with Samsung Display Co. Apple’s engineers are striving to minimize the visible crease when the screen is folded, but the size and complexity of the display have driven up both cost and technical risk. Prototype models reportedly weigh around 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg), roughly equivalent to a MacBook Pro and significantly heavier than the current iPad Pro models.
Another significant obstacle is pricing: internal targets have placed the retail cost of the foldable iPad at around US $3,000, nearly three times the price of a 13-inch iPad Pro. The display alone is said to cost almost three times what Apple currently pays for smaller iPad panels.
Industry observers also note that with tablet demand slowing, Apple may be exercising caution in committing to mass production. Some reports indicate that work on the project was paused earlier this year to focus on other foldable and next-generation devices.
While the earlier timeline envisaged a launch around 2028, the mounting issues have shifted expectations significantly. Some analysts now believe Apple may wait until 2029 or beyond to ensure the product delivers on its premium promise rather than rushing it to market.
For now, Apple has declined to comment on the reports. The project, code-named “J312” inside the company, remains under wraps, keeping watchers speculating about how it will fit into Apple’s broader ecosystem and whether it will require a new category between iPad and Mac.
If Apple ultimately brings the device to market, the brand intends for it to look like a MacBook when folded, with aluminum sides and no external display, and resemble a large-screen tablet when opened. But the combination of weight, cost, and complexity suggests the path forward will be longer and more incremental than originally hoped.
