Apple Reportedly Abandons Development of “iPad Ultra” Foldable Model
Apple is reportedly abandoning plans for a foldable iPad, codenamed “iPad Ultra,” due to consistently weak sales of high-end iPad Pro models, making it difficult to justify investment in a higher-priced, niche new product. The news originated from Chinese social media leaker “刹那数码.”
He responded to a user question about whether the iPad would join Apple’s “Ultra” product line, stating that while Apple is advancing products like the Apple Watch Ultra, M-series Ultra chips, a rumored iPhone Ultra, and a MacBook Ultra with an OLED display, there are “no plans” to launch an Ultra model for the iPad series, attributing this to the weak market performance of the existing iPad Pro.
Public data shows that iPad Pro sales have been under pressure for some time. As early as October 2024, reports indicated that shipments of the M4-chip-equipped iPad Pro were significantly lowered due to lower-than-expected demand after launch. DSCC analyst Ross Young revised the full-year 2024 shipment forecast from a high of 10 million units to approximately 6.7 million units, with 13-inch model shipments expected to decline by more than 50% and 90% in the third and fourth quarters of the year, respectively. He pointed out that the high price is a major obstacle: starting at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1299 for the 13-inch model, many users still view tablets as a “second device” after smartphones or laptops and are more sensitive to high prices. iPad business revenue has declined for three consecutive years, accounting for approximately 6.73% of Apple’s total revenue in fiscal year 2025.
Meanwhile, the internal project for a foldable iPad is still progressing, but its prospects are becoming increasingly uncertain. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman mentioned in the latest issue of his “Power On” newsletter that Apple is indeed developing a 20-inch foldable iPad, which he described as one of the key projects being focused on by John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and future Apple CEO. However, several people involved in the project said that the device “will likely end up being just a quirky experimental project” and may not actually be released.
The development of this foldable iPad dates back several years and has been accompanied by repeated delays and technical challenges. A report in October 2025 indicated that Apple had once again postponed the internal target launch date of the product from the original 2028 to 2029 or later, due to ongoing engineering challenges related to weight control, feature trade-offs, and display technology. The device is reportedly using a large-size OLED foldable panel supplied by Samsung, and one of the development focuses is to minimize the visibility of the crease, similar to the rumored foldable iPhone.
At this stage, the weight issue is particularly prominent in early prototypes. Insiders say the prototype weighs about 3.5 pounds (approximately 1.59 kilograms), which is not only heavier than a 14-inch MacBook Pro but also almost three times the weight of a 13-inch iPad Pro. In terms of pricing, internal discussions suggest a price cap of up to $3900, about three times the starting price of $1299 for the current 13-inch iPad Pro, further increasing uncertainty about its market positioning.
There is also no consensus within Apple on product categorization. Gurman pointed out in March of this year that this “large-size foldable iPad” would break the clear boundary Apple has long maintained between Mac and iPad. Some team members prefer to view it as a foldable iPad, while others would rather classify it as a “full-screen MacBook.” The device is said to resemble a traditional laptop when closed, featuring an aluminum body and no external screen, with an overall design similar to Huawei’s approximately $3400 18-inch MateBook Fold foldable tablet.
While canceling the “iPad Ultra” plan, Apple is trying to further expand the “Ultra” brand to the top of multiple product lines. According to current rumors, Apple has at least three Ultra-level new products in preparation this year: a foldable iPhone Ultra priced around $2000, AirPods Ultra with built-in cameras and support for “Visual Intelligence,” and a MacBook Ultra with a touch OLED display, priced up to 20% higher than the existing MacBook Pro. Another source confirmed that Apple internally uses the names iPhone Ultra and MacBook Ultra to refer to related projects. Currently, the “Ultra” name has appeared on products and services such as the Apple Watch Ultra, M-series Ultra chips, and CarPlay Ultra.
From a product line layout perspective, the iPad Ultra was originally seen as a “natural fit” among the high-end, forward-looking hardware combinations of various product lines, but real-world market demand has dampened this idea. With the iPad Pro already struggling to find enough buyers at its current price point, it seems increasingly unconvincing that a more expensive and niche foldable iPad Ultra could generate sufficient demand, which has made Apple’s attitude of “no plans to launch an iPad Ultra” a natural consequence.