Apple cancelled the development of the foldable iPad‑MacBook hybrid
- Apple has canceled the development of the foldable iPad-MacBook hybrid.
- The project was a priority for the new CEO John Ternus.
- Omdia indicated that memory prices made the device unprofitable.
During the period when the tablet market was showing growth, many tech giants considered the possibility of releasing foldable devices that combine the advantages of a tablet and a laptop. Among them was Apple, for which the development of such a hybrid became one of the main tasks of the new CEO John Ternus.
According to an analytical report by Omdia, by the beginning of 2024, the company planned to introduce a hybrid with a flexible screen size ranging from 18 to 20 inches, capable of replacing both the iPad and the MacBook. The initial product release timeline has shifted to 2028, which has already raised doubts about the project's feasibility.
Skepticism of experts
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman suggested earlier this year that the device may never enter mass production. According to him, the development is in the experimental phase, and sources close to the project confirm that Apple may abandon further promotion.
This week, representatives of Omdia officially announced the cancellation of plans to release foldable MacBooks with 16.1 and 18-inch displays. In their opinion, the decision is not directly related to technical difficulties but is driven by economic considerations.
One of the key factors was the sharp inflation in component costs, particularly memory. Foldable displays require more capacious and faster RAM, which leads to a significant increase in the final product's price. According to analysts, such a hybrid would be too expensive to justify demand.
Apple's refusal fits into the company's broader trend of a cautious approach to innovation. Unlike competitors such as Samsung or Huawei, which are already releasing foldable smartphones and tablets, Apple traditionally waits until the technology has fully ironed out its flaws before offering it to the mass market.
Nevertheless, interest in flexible screens remains high, and experts believe that new solutions capable of combining the portability of a tablet and the productivity of a laptop will emerge in the coming years without excessive cost increases.
Source: 3DNews
