UBS sees Apple delivering a foldable iPad as early as next year, although it says a 2021 launch is more likely

When it comes to Apple though, the respondents said that they wouldn’t mind spending a little more for a foldable iOS device. UBS says that those who normally purchase Apple products are more interested in purchasing a foldable handset and would pay an even larger premium ($600) for a foldable device from the manufacturer. The firm’s analysts say that while Apple could deliver a foldable next year, releasing one in 2021 is more likely. And in its research note to clients, UBS says that Apple is more apt to deliver a foldable iPad than a foldable iPhone.

UBS also notes that China is the country most receptive to foldable phones and the investment banking firm says that it is “reminiscent of how (China) drove larger displays” in the smartphone industry. And while the Galaxy Fold has had the aforementioned issues, the banking firm’s analysts say that it will be Samsung that dominates this sector of the industry, at least in the early days. As the research note points out, Samsung has filed the most patents related to foldable devices than its rivals.

The UBS research team agree with other analysts who say that the price of foldable phones will have to come down before the segment becomes more widely accepted by consumers. For that to happen, manufacturers will need to cut costs dramatically. We should point out that Motorola is expected to offer a foldable Android reboot of the once extremely popular Motorola RAZR clamshell later this year. This unit is rumored to carry a $1,500 price tag, although it isn’t expected to have a flagship chipset and the internal screen opens up to a more modest 6.5-inches. The Galaxy Fold opens up to reveal a 7.3-inch display while the Mate X opens up to become an 8-inch tablet.