According to a report, Apple is working with LG to develop a foldable OLED display with an ultra-thin cover glass for future iPad and MacBook models.
The Elec claimedthat LG Display will ship 17-inch foldable 4K OLED panels to HP this year, destined for a foldable notebook with an 11-inch display when closed. LG Display has growing experience with foldable OLED displays, having already supplied the 13.3-inch display panel for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold. The Taiwanese publication now claims that Apple is working with LG Display "to develop another foldable OLED panel." This panel will reportedly use an ultra-thin cover glass instead of polyimide, which most other foldable displays currently use. The report is the second reliable sign from Apple's supply chain that large foldable devices are in development, as The Elec's claim appears to line up with a recent report from display analyst Ross Young, which said Apple is considering foldable notebooks with a screen size of around 20 inches.
First foldable iPad and MacBook models will not appear before 2025
According to Young, these devices could form a whole new product category for Apple, leading to a dual-use product that can be used as a notebook with a full-size on-screen keyboard when folded, and as a monitor with an external keyboard when unfolded. Young added that the devices will offer 4K resolution or more at the size Apple is exploring. While Young called the device a "foldable notebook," it seemed plausible at the time that the all-screen device could actually be a foldable iPad Pro. Today's report, however, clarifies that the display panel under development is suitable for both tablets and notebooks. According to Young, the timeframe for Apple's foldable notebook to launch is "likely later" than 2025, with 2026 or 2027 mentioned as possible dates. (Photo by Amelie11 / Bigstockphoto)
