Apple’s foldable iPad with 18-inch OLED screen faces setbacks, pushing release plans to 2029

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Apple’s dream of launching a massive foldable iPad has hit a roadblock. According to a new report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company has been quietly working on an iPad with a huge 18-inch foldable display, but technical and design challenges are now pushing its expected release from 2028 to at least 2029 or possibly later.

The foldable iPad, which has been in development for several years, is expected to cost around $3,000, making it one of Apple’s most expensive products yet. The company is reportedly collaborating with Samsung Display to create the special folding screen, which aims to reduce the visible crease that most foldable devices have. Apple is also testing similar screen technology for its future foldable iPhone.

Internally code-named J312, the foldable iPad won’t have an external screen like a typical foldable phone. When closed, it will look like a MacBook, with sleek aluminum panels on both sides. When opened, it transforms into a large 13-inch tablet-sized display, perfect for watching videos, drawing, or multitasking.

However, making such a large foldable screen has proven to be far more complex than expected. Engineers are struggling with weight and durability issues. Early prototypes reportedly weigh about 3.5 pounds, which is roughly the same as a MacBook Pro — much heavier than a regular iPad, which usually weighs around one pound. The display will use OLED technology (organic light-emitting diode), the same kind found in the latest iPads and iPhones, offering richer colors and thinner panels — but also adding to the cost.

Apple’s foldable iPad seems to take inspiration from Huawei’s MateBook Fold, an 18-inch foldable tablet the Chinese company launched earlier this year. Huawei’s version is about a pound lighter and sells for around $3,400, though it’s currently available only in China.

Apple hopes the foldable iPad will revive interest in its tablet lineup, which has seen slowing demand in recent years. While iPad sales rose during the pandemic, they’ve since declined, and revenue still hasn’t matched the 2021 peak.

For now, Apple is focusing on smaller upgrades — like the new M5-powered iPad Pro and refreshed iPad Air and base models coming next year. But the foldable iPad remains its boldest bet yet. Still, given the technical hurdles — and Apple’s history of shelving long-term projects like its electric car — there’s a real chance this futuristic iPad might never make it to store shelves.