Apple’s 18.8-Inch Foldable Prototype Features In-Display Face ID, Not Sure If It’s iPad or MacBook Prototype; M4 MacBook Air Gets Dual Display Support

Highlights

• Apple is rumoured to be working on an 18.8-inch foldable device with in-display Face ID.
• It is still uncertain if it will be an iPad Pro or a MacBook.
• The M4 MacBook Air restores dual external display support without trade-offs.

Apple 18.8-inch foldable device prototype details leaked. (Image credit – Apple)

Apple has been rumored to be working on an 18.8-inch foldable device for some time now, and a new leak suggests that a prototype exists with Face ID embedded beneath the display. While reports agree on the display size, there’s still uncertainty about whether this device will be an iPad Pro or a MacBook.

The first hint of Apple’s interest in a large foldable display came from display analyst Ross Young, who mentioned a 20.x-inch MacBook display. Young wrote, “We are now showing Apple in our roadmap for foldable notebooks. We hear there is interest at the largest size yet, around 20.x. This size could create a new category for Apple and would result in a true dual use product, a notebook with a full-size keyboard when folded and for use as a monitor when not folded and used with an external keyboard.”

Later, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo found supply chain evidence of a 20.3-inch folding display, also for a MacBook. Kuo later revised his findings, suggesting Apple was now considering a smaller 18.8-inch version. Young later backed this claim, citing an exact measurement of 18.76 inches, which Apple would round up to 18.8 inches.

A third speculation came from tipster Jeff Pu, who confirmed the 18.8-inch display but noted that it was unclear whether the device would be an iPad or a MacBook.

Apple Foldable Prototype With In-Display Face ID

Now, leaker Digital Chat Station, who previously shared accurate leaks about the iPhone 16 Pro’s telephoto lens, claims Apple has developed a prototype of this foldable device with Face ID technology built into the display.

DCS wrote, “Guoguo also has a Foldable iPad Pro, an engineering machine with an 18.8-inch screen, using a metal superstructured lens, mainly integrating Face ID Rx and Tx for under-screen 3D face recognition.”

Apple has held patents for this tech for years, and recent reports suggest the company has solved the biggest challenges associated with embedding Face ID beneath the screen.

A Foldable iPad or a MacBook With a Virtual Keyboard?

At first glance, an all-display device seems more like an iPad Pro, but Apple has patents for an all-screen MacBook with a soft keyboard. If Apple goes this route, it would need to tackle three major challenges, which include making a virtual keyboard comfortable to use, simulating the tactile feel of physical keys and ensuring compatibility with touch-typing.

Apple has been exploring solutions to these issues since at least 2018, but implementing them in a practical way remains uncertain.

Some speculate that Apple might be working on a hybrid device capable of running both macOS and iPadOS, but Apple has consistently maintained that MacBooks and iPads serve different purposes.

Until more details emerge, the 18.8-inch foldable remains an intriguing mystery, whether it ends up as a next-gen iPad Pro or a bold new take on the MacBook.

M4 MacBook Air Finally Matches Intel Model’s Dual Display Support

Meanwhile, Intel MacBook Air users who wanted to upgrade to an Apple silicon model can now do that without sacrificing the key dual external display support.

The M4 MacBook Air arrives on March 12, bringing a fresh sky blue colour and a slightly tweaked mute key icon (if that’s your thing). While the design has remained largely the same since the M2 version, the biggest improvement comes in display capabilities.

When Apple transitioned from Intel to M1 and M2 chips, MacBook Air users lost the ability to connect two external displays. The first two generations of Apple silicon MacBook Airs were limited to just one external monitor unless users relied on unofficial workarounds.

The M3 MacBook Air improved things slightly by allowing dual external display support, but only with the lid closed.

Now, with the M4 MacBook Air, Apple has fully restored dual display support while keeping the built-in display active at the same time. That means users can finally connect two external monitors without making trade-offs.

For those still considering an earlier M-series MacBook Air, this is a big deal. Eventually, as older models phase out, all new MacBook Air models will match the external display capabilities of the 2020 Intel version.

FAQs

Q1. What is the rumored size and display technology for Apple’s foldable device prototype?

Answer. Apple is rumored to be working on an 18.8-inch foldable device with Face ID embedded beneath the display. While the display size is confirmed, there is still uncertainty about whether the device will be an iPad Pro or a MacBook.

Q2. Who provided insights and confirmations about the display size of Apple’s foldable device?

Answer. Display analysts Ross Young and Ming-Chi Kuo, along with tipster Jeff Pu, have provided insights on the device size. Young mentioned a 20.x-inch display, later confirmed to be 18.8 inches. Kuo found supply chain evidence of a folding display and later revised it to 18.8 inches, which Pu also confirmed.

Q3. What improvements does the M4 MacBook Air bring compared to earlier models?

Answer. The M4 MacBook Air restores dual external display support without trade-offs while keeping the built-in display active. It also brings a fresh sky blue colour and a slightly tweaked mute key icon. This improvement is significant for those considering an upgrade from earlier M-series models.

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