Key Points:

  • Huawei’s MateBook Fold is an 18-inch foldable laptop that doubles as a tablet.
  • It’s eerily similar to what rumors say Apple’s future iPad Fold will look like.
  • The MateBook supports multiple modes, including a virtual laptop layout.
  • It’s very expensive: starting at ~$3,300 and going up to ~$3,750.
  • Amazon is also working on a foldable device — expected around 2026-2027.
  • Apple’s version might not launch until late 2027 or 2028.

Huawei Trying to Beat Apple to the Foldable Laptop Game? Looks Like It

We’ve all been hearing whispers (okay, loud rumors) about Apple’s plans for a foldable iPad. Some say it’s coming in 2026. Others bet on 2027 or later. But while Apple plays the long game, Huawei just showed up to the folding party with a real product in hand; the MateBook Fold.

And honestly? It might be the best preview yet of what Apple might have up its sleeve.

What is Huawei’s MateBook Fold?

The MateBook Fold is Huawei’s brand-new foldable laptop-slash-tablet thing, and it’s rocking an 18-inch folding display.

When folded, it’s as compact as a 13-inch laptop. When unfolded? You’ve got a huge, tablet-like screen that looks a lot like those iPad Fold concepts we’ve seen floating around the internet.

Here’s what it can do:

  • Fully flat mode: Like a giant tablet — perfect for creative work or media.
  • External keyboard mode: Pair it with a physical keyboard and it acts like a full desktop setup.
  • Laptop angle: The screen bends to a laptop shape, and you get two virtual screens.
  • Pseudo laptop mode: Virtual keyboard on the lower half, like an iPad pretending to be a MacBook.

And as for specs and price? Try this on for size:

  • 18-inch display
  • 32GB RAM / 1TB or 2TB storage
  • Up to ¥26,999 (~$3,750) — yeah, that’s a lot of zeros

Expect Apple’s iPad Fold to Look Like This?

Honestly? Probably.

Reports suggest Apple is working on an 18.8-inch foldable device that behaves more like an iPad than a MacBook. There’s been some confusion, is it an iPad? Is it a MacBook with a touch keyboard? Is it a Transformer? (Okay, not that last one.) But the MateBook Fold makes it easier to imagine what Apple might be cooking.

If Apple does launch a foldable iPad that mimics the MateBook’s design with a big screen, versatile modes, Apple Pencil support, it could be a seriously cool new product line.

Related: Download iPadOS 17.7.8: Critical Security Update for Older iPad Models

Amazon’s Foldable Device Also in the Works

Yup. According to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Amazon is quietly developing its own large foldable device too. No one knows exactly what it’ll be though. Kindle Pro Fold? (Please don’t.) But it’s reportedly not due until 2026 or 2027.

For comparison, Apple’s foldable is now expected in late 2027 or 2028. So it’s a folding race, and Huawei just took the first lap.

The 404 Take

Huawei is flexing hard, as it almost always had, but Apple will likely wait to get it perfectly right. Let’s be real, the $3,750 price tag is wild. Even Apple might raise an eyebrow at that. Huawei probably isn’t expecting a flood of sales; this is more about being first, getting press, and showing it can innovate (even if most of us aren’t switching to HarmonyOS any time soon).

But still, credit where it’s due: Huawei gave us a glimpse into the future.

Got thoughts on foldable iPads? Would you buy one, or are you holding out for Apple’s take?

Categorized in:

Android, Apple, News,

Last Update: May 20, 2025

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