Apple should be working toward what could succeed today’s Mac and iPad designs, even if that means bringing them together, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says in says in his latest Power On newsletter. And I agree.
I think the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display will be incredible. However, I’ve long favored a more radical approach: an Apple device that could replace both the iPad and the Mac.
Image a MacBook factor that has a detachable touch screen. With the display attached, you could use it as a traditional laptop or, well, a touchscreen laptop. Detach the display and use it as an iPad-like tablet.
Under my scenario, the device would have a cellular option and Apple Pencil support — two features that Apple inexplicably omitted from the PROLED XDR Display laptop.
Voila! With an external monitor added, you’d have one device to replace your Mac desktop, Mac laptop, and iPad Pro. Under this scenario, when you want a big screen, keyboard, lots of processing power, etc., you would use the Apple Pad/Apple Vision/eGPU combo. Of course, this would involve merging iPadOS and macOS into one AppleOS operating system (Apple OS?).
And in 2022, Apple was granted a patent that hinted at a hybrid device. It was for an “electronic device with adjustable airflow diversion.” It mainly involves enhanced methods for keeping laptops cool. However, it also says the electronic device could a base portion and a display housing that could be rotated. This at least hints at the possibility of a Mac laptop with a display that could be rotated 180 degrees and used as a tablet.
Also, in February 2022, Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) report — as noted by MacRumors — analyst Ross Young said Apple was considering a 20-inch foldable MacBook. It would be a dual-use product: able to work as a notebook with a full-size on-screen keyboard when folded and as a monitor when unfolded and used with an external keyboard. The foldable could also allow for 4K resolutions or higher at the size Apple is investigating, Young added.
Apple has stated time and again that it won’t merge the iPad and Mac into one device or combine the two operating systems. However, execs also told us that there would not be a touchscreen Mac, but here we are.
Would an iPad/Mac combo cannibalize some sales (most likely the iPad). Sure. Apple has a long-standing business philosophy—pioneered by Steve Jobs and continued by Tim Cook—of willingly cannibalizing its own product lines rather than letting competitors do it first.
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