Apple Faces Engineering Challenges Delaying 18-Inch Foldable iPad Launch

Apple's development of a large foldable iPad featuring an 18-inch OLED display co-developed with Samsung is facing significant engineering challenges, causing a delay in its release to 2029 or later. The foldable iPad, internally codenamed J312, resembles a MacBook when closed and expands to a 13-inch laptop-sized screen when opened, but prototypes are currently heavy, weighing around 3.5 pounds, comparable to a MacBook Pro. Apple and Samsung are working to minimize the typical crease seen in foldable screens, a persistent issue also affecting Samsung's Galaxy Flip. The device is expected to be costly, with a potential price of about $3,000, roughly three times the price of the current 13-inch iPad Pro, reflecting the complex and expensive nature of this technology. The foldable iPad aims to reinvigorate Apple's tablet lineup amid slowing demand, competing in the growing foldable device market where other manufacturers like Huawei and Samsung have launched similar products. Alongside the foldable iPad, Apple is also delaying its foldable phone, initially planned for 2026, due to similar technical difficulties related to weight, features, and display technology.