An iPad that folds into an iPhone? Apple’s apparently working on an eye-popping foldable for 2023, with a 3nm A16X and voice calling

Tipster @komiya_kj shared some eyebrow-raising specs for a purported Apple foldable device, slated for launch sometime in 2023. Going by the specs, the Apple foldable appears to be something of an iPhone/iPad hybrid, folding out into tablet mode.

According to the tipster, the Apple foldable device will sport a 3nm Apple A16X or A17 chipset. Since this is a couple generations out, we expect performance that’s easily double or triple that of current-generation iPhones. Adding further credence to rumours that Apple plans to adopt microLED technology across its product stack, the tipster claims the Apple foldable will feature a microLED display. Earlier reports indicate that microLED tech allows manufacturers to design substantially thinner displays, so this could be a crucial element in Apple’s foldable play. 

The tipster made it clear that the foldable will support voice calling. Since this is something Apple doesn’t support on iPads (because of how inconvenient it’d be), this is a strong indication that this is an iPhone/iPad hybrid, and not something slotting in between Macs and iPads. 

While 2023 is a few years out, it’ll give Apple enough time to mature its foldable device technology, avoiding the launch issues that plagued the Galaxy Fold.