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, intended for a foldable notebook with an 11-inch closed display. LG Display has growing experience with foldable OLED displays and has 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 align with a recent report by display analyst Ross Young, which stated that 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 create a whole new product category for Apple, leading to a dual-purpose product that can be used as a notebook with a full-screen keyboard when folded, and as a monitor with an external keyboard when unfolded. Young added that the devices offer 4K resolution or higher at the size Apple is investigating. While Young referred to the device as a "foldable notebook," it seemed plausible at the time that the all-screen device could actually be a foldable iPad Pro. However, today's report clarifies that the display panel under development is suitable for both tablets and notebooks. According to Young, the timeframe for the launch of Apple's foldable notebook is "likely later" than 2025, with 2026 or 2027 mentioned as possible dates. (Photo by Amelie11 / Bigstockphoto)
