Shop E Store When Steve Jobs first introduced the iPad, he called it “the third category of devices.” Something that does certain things better than a laptop or smartphone. But what if the foldable iPhone can work as an equivalent to both a smartphone and an iPad? Will that “third device” disappear?
Justify the existence of an iPad
Apple’s first foldable iPhone has recently come to my mind.
I’m particularly excited about the idea of ”iPhone Fold” which offers utilities like the iPad Mini.
For years I owned an iPad Mini and loved it. However, when I made my iPad Pro a full-time computer ten years ago, I wasn’t keen on the idea of using two iPads, and the iPad Mini fell from my life.
My 13-inch M4 iPad Pro is basically a laptop. This is because it is stored on a magic keyboard 24/7. So you don’t really benefit from the “tablet” part of your iPad.
As a result, there is something I miss so much about my little iPad Mini.
When he first introduced the iPad, it reaches a kind of Steve Jobs core proposal.
In 2010, with the heels of the iPhone’s early success, Jobs proposed that there was a “third category of devices” space that fits between smartphones and laptops.
This device was an iPad.
Jobs showed on stage that iPads are better than both iPhone and Mac for certain tasks. For example, light web browsing, watching videos, and checking emails.
He made a compelling argument about the existence of the iPad, but it was dependent on this argument.
“If you have a third category of devices, you need to be better at these types of tasks than laptops and smartphones. Otherwise, there’s no reason for that.”
Over the years, many have questioned the “reason for its existence” of iPads.
Some users like me rely on it as their main computer. For others, it’s a casual device for entertainment and light tasks.
With the iPhone getting bigger and the Mac getting refined, the iPad had to fight to stand out.
And soon, with a foldable iPhone, it could be a much tougher battle.
iPhone folds may start clocks immediately on the end of your iPad
The iPad won’t go anywhere anytime soon.
First of all, the first iPhone folding will almost certainly be a niche device. Its super premium price tag (some people expect to reach $2,000, but it leaves plenty of room for the $349 iPad to continue selling.
But what will happen in five years?
If Foldables is successful, Apple will probably offer them more and more at a more attractive price range.
Next year’s iPhone fold is expected to have a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display.
This makes it reasonably smaller than the current iPhone when folded, and resembles the iPad mini when unfolded.
However, history has repeatedly shown that users love big iPhones.
It’s not surprising to see several different folding iPhones in different sizes over the next few years. This replaces Apple’s current iPhone lineup with even more.
Over time, the iPad may continue as a niche and budget-friendly device. Or get a huge folding version with its own Ultra Premium.
But for most people? I think the need for an iPad will disappear once the product is absorbed into a foldable iPhone.
When Steve Jobs was there, the third category of that device was really worth it. However, folding your smartphone can change the game.
I love the iPad, but I might soon enter the early stages of that logical ending.
Do you think a foldable iPhone will eventually fade out your iPad? Please let us know in the comments.
