With the rise of foldable smartphones and OLED technology, the question now is: Is it time for a foldable display tablet? In Malaysia, tech enthusiasts are looking forward to seeing bigger, more versatile devices, and a foldable tablet could be the next big thing. Imagine a tablet with a seamless OLED display that folds effortlessly, offering higher brightness and immersive viewing. Such a device could revolutionize how we use tablets for work, entertainment, and gaming or at least that's what Apple thinks might happen in 2028.
Given that it's at least 2 to 3 years away, Android tablet makers have some time to come out with one first. Who do you think will build it, and how much will it cost? Let's dive into the possible features, tech specs, release dates, and pricing.
The Appeal of OLED Displays and Foldable Tech
Foldable tablets, equipped with OLED displays, promise a blend of portability and productivity. OLED screens provide sharper images, deeper blacks, and higher brightness, perfect for on-the-go use. Current smartphones with foldable displays already showcase these features, and it's only a matter of time before this technology expands to larger screens. The flexibility of OLED tech is key to making foldable tablets practical, allowing the screen to bend without compromising display quality.
A foldable tablet would offer more than just a larger screen. With multitasking, split-screen functions, and high-definition streaming, it could be the perfect device for those needing both a tablet and a laptop on the go. If you didn't know already, laptop makers have already made foldable display laptops such as the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 but these aren't exactly tablets either.
The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED
Brands Leading the Way
Samsung, Huawei, and Apple are likely candidates to release foldable tablets. Samsung, with its success in foldable smartphones like the Galaxy Z Fold, could easily transfer this expertise to tablets. A Samsung Galaxy Tab Fold could feature a 12-inch or 14-inch seamless OLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon or Exynos chipset priced around RM6000 to RM7000 in Malaysia.
Huawei, too, has a history of pushing foldable tech with its Mate X series. A Huawei MatePad X Fold might come with a new Kirin chipset, OLED screen, and HarmonyOS for about RM5500. However, given their triple folding Huawei Mate XT Ultimate smartphone, we could also see a larger version of this device in tablet form.
As rumoured, Apple fans might anticipate a Foldable iPad Pro in 2028. It would likely offer top-tier specs, including a seamless OLED display about the size of two iPad Pros, possibly an Apple M chipset, and 1TB storage. However, we fully expect Apple’s price tag to be hefty, with estimates at RM8000 or more.
Does this look like the right size for an Apple iPad Pro Fold?
Pricing and Release Dates
Pricing will vary, but based on current trends, we expect foldable tablets to start around RM5000 to RM8000. While there are no rumours of such devices yet, Samsung and Huawei may lead the charge with releases as early as mid-2025. As with most new tech, prices will drop over time as foldable screens become more common.
As always, with such predictions, it's hard to always be correct so do take this with a pinch of salt. While we may feel that the time is ripe for such devices, the aforementioned brands may not feel the need to do so or they may think that it would affect the sales of their pre-existing foldable devices. Or they may just be waiting for a bigger brand to make the first move.
Conclusion - The Next step in tablet evolution?
The foldable tablet is likely the next evolution in mobile computing, combining the best of tablets and laptops into one versatile device. It could well be the breath of fresh air that most tablets need, rather than the current trend of thin slates that most tablets go for these days.
It has already been quite a while since foldable display laptops were announced. However, reception for these devices has not been as high as many have hoped, mainly because of the rather high price tags and midrange performance. After all, if you're paying ultra-high prices you'd sort of expect the same sort of performance as well. While RM5000 to RM8000 is our predicted price range for foldable display tablets, this could also be detrimental to it being picked up in the long run as that is already laptop price territory.
In any case, tablet makers like Samsung, Huawei, and Apple will certainly have to think things through before they release their foldable tablets. What do you think? Are you ready for a foldable tablet? What price would you pay for one? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest updates on release dates, pricing, and tech specs.
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