Apple reportedly cancelled plans for a large foldable device that was expected to combine elements of an iPad and MacBook. The project was previously described as a priority for John Ternus, who officially became Apple’s CEO earlier this week.
The reported decision came just days before Apple’s September 9 event, where the company is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone. The development could signal a narrower approach to foldable hardware as the tech giant prepares to enter the category with a smartphone rather than a larger tablet-laptop hybrid.
Apple’s larger foldable device has been the subject of rumors for several years. Earlier reports described it as an approximately 20-inch foldable iPad, while more recent supply-chain research referred to it as a foldable MacBook.
Latest research suggested that Apple cancelled plans for a foldable MacBook with a display measuring between 16.1 and 18 inches when fully opened. Based on the size and development history, the product appears to be the same device previously linked to Apple’s plans for a hybrid iPad and Mac.
The project was initially rumored to arrive as early as 2026, but its expected launch window was later pushed back. Reports suggested that Apple was considering an 18-inch-class device for a much later release, potentially around 2029.
Earlier this year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman described the foldable iPad project as a priority for Ternus, although he also warned that Apple could ultimately decide not to bring the experimental product to consumers.
The foldable device is reportedly not the only MacBook project Apple has dropped. According to reports, Apple cancelled plans for a separate OLED MacBook measuring between 14.4 and 16.1 inches.
This model would have occupied a space between Apple’s existing MacBook Pro sizes and the larger foldable device. Apple is instead expected to maintain a more focused notebook lineup, with OLED MacBook Pro models still part of its broader roadmap. Reports also point to a possible 13.6-inch OLED MacBook Air in the coming years.
Also Read: iPhone Ultra Screen Protector Leak: Fresh Clues About Apple's Foldable Design
The reported cancellation is particularly notable since Apple is preparing to enter the foldable smartphone market. The company is expected to introduce the foldable iPhone Ultra at its September 9 event, giving Apple its first major product in the category.
For now, Apple’s foldable ambitions appear to be concentrating on the iPhone rather than expanding immediately into a much larger MacBook or iPad device. The decision could also give the company time to assess consumer response to its first foldable before committing to another expensive and technically ambitious form factor.