Holy shit, the clickbait is strong with this one: several sources are reporting that Apple is "said to be working on a foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid device."
Two different sources are now saying Apple plans to introduce a foldable iPad and MacBook hybrid product, though the release date for such a device would likely be a few years away.
The rumors first began to swirl when DSCC analyst Ross Young published a report claiming that Apple has been discussing a 20-inch foldable computing device with suppliers.
Here's the crux of the rumor, along with potential timing (emphasis mine):
We hear there is interest at the largest size yet, around 20.x". This size could create a new category for Apple and would result in a true dual use product, a notebook with a full-size keyboard when folded and for use as a monitor when not folded and used with an external keyboard. It may also allow for UHD/4K resolution or even higher at that size. The time frame is likely later than 2025 though, it could be 2026 or 2027.
Is anyone asking for a device this large and cumbersome? I have an Intel 16" MacBook Pro for work and am writing this on a 14" M1 Pro MacBook Pro and absolutely love the portability of the smaller Pro model. I couldn't imagine lugging a 20.x" computer with me to and from work, let alone on an airplane. That size is too large to be comfortably portable, and too feature-rich to be stationary on a desk.
What problem is this device attempting to solve? The removal of a physical keyboard in favor of a touchscreen device? The one that nobody is proficient at typing on? The one that will cost Apple significantly more to produce and engineer than, say, a physical keyboard?
As an APPL shareholder, I'm all for moonshots and inventing new categories to stay relevant. In this case, thought, I doubt the juice is worth the squeeze.
