Apple Reportedly Revamping iPad Pro Lineup and Building More Foldables

The company apparently expects to sell a lot of folding iPhones.

Alex Valdes

Alex Valdes from Bellevue, Washington has been pumping content into the Internet river for quite a while, including stints at MSNBC.com, MSN, Bing, MoneyTalksNews, Tipico and more. He admits to being somewhat fascinated by the Cambridge coffee webcam back in the Roaring '90s.

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Apparently, there are no hazy, lazy days of summer at Apple. The company is testing several new iPad Pro models, redesigning an entry-level MacBook Pro and developing a new M7 processing chip, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. In another report, news outlet Nikkei Asia said that Apple is also significantly ramping up production of its first foldable phone -- expected to launch later this year.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As Apple transitions from outgoing CEO Tim Cook to John Ternus, the company is expected to launch a wide variety of new products this fall and next year. Those products include the company's first foldable, a second-generation iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, entry-level iPhone 18, possibly an iPhone 20 (to mark the 20th anniversary of the device) and Apple's first smart glasses.

Along with the roster of new products, Apple is also upgrading its iPad Pro line, according to Gurman. He said the four new models, set for launch in spring of 2027, would retain the 11-inch and 13-inch display sizes of current models.

More from CNET: I Need Apple to Finally Launch Its Foldable

Gurman said the revamped iPad Pro models will get faster chips, maybe even jumping from the current M5 processor to an M7 to handle larger AI loads. As Gurman has reported before, the new iPad Pro models could also feature a vapor chamber cooling system to reduce overheating.

The current iPad design and built-in 5G is great, says tech tester Austin Evans, who has nearly 6 million subscribers to his YouTube channel where he tests technology, but the operating system will always be an issue. "Even with apps like Final Cut and improved Finder, you still have to deal with a compromised, locked-down experience compared to the Mac or Windows," Evans told CNET.

Apple is also redesigning its entry-level MacBook Pro, which could launch in the first half of 2027, Gurman reports. He said the 14-inch laptop will likely have a touchscreen, as will the higher-end MacBooks that are expected to be launched late this year or early next year.

Strong demand for foldable expected

Apple's first foldable phone, one of the company's most anticipated products ever, is widely expected to launch later this year, even though the company has not officially announced that it is making one.

But according to the news outlet Nikkei Asia, Apple is expecting strong demand for the foldable. The company has told suppliers it will need 10 million units this year, up from the 7 million to 8 million foldables it wanted a few months ago, Nikkei Asia reports.

Apple reportedly has solved the hinge issue that was hindering the development of the foldable. The company is likely to ship a relatively small number of foldables after launch, followed by a larger production run if all goes smoothly, Nikkei Asia said.

Evans says he's excited for Apple's foldable. But the potential price tag is a big negative. "If Apple brings a refined piece of hardware and a sprinkling of iPadOS to the inner display with multitasking, I think it'll be great. And very, very expensive," Evans told CNET.

Nikkei Asia said Apple expects to produce more than 220 million phones this year across its lineup, including the foldable iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

According to CNET's latest updates on what to expect from the foldable, it's expected to launch this September, will have a shape similar to a Google Pixel Fold and will cost between $2,000 and $2,500.

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ALEX VALDES

Alex Valdes from Bellevue, Washington has been pumping content into the Internet river for quite a while, including stints at MSNBC.com, MSN, Bing, MoneyTalksNews, Tipico and more. He admits to being somewhat fascinated by the Cambridge coffee webcam back in the Roaring '90s. See full bio