New iPads are great, but longtime Apple users have always wanted to see a touchscreen Mac, something along the lines of the Microsoft Surface. Reports of such a device by Apple have barely surfaced (pun intended) in recent years, but a new patent offers some hope that it may still one day arrive.
Apple was recently granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that covers exactly this. Patent 11,320,869 is titled, “Hinged keyboard accessory having multiple installation modes for a tablet computing device” and describes a tablet accessory that fits the description of a Magic Keyboard-like device. The bulk of the patent explains how the accessory would work–how it attaches/detaches to a tablet, how it can be folded, how a stylus can be used, and more.
The patent also includes illustrations of a tablet with a macOS-like interface. The illustrations clearly show what is a macOS Finder, with a menu bar, menu bar icons, Mac-like windows, and desktop icons.
While the patent consistently refers to the accessory as one for a “tablet,” no specific mention of “iPad” is made throughout the filing. With the illustrations in mind, it appears that Apple could be developing a Mac tablet with a touchscreen, and this accessory would work with it.
The patent describes a keyboard accessory that works with a tablet.
The patent describes a keyboard accessory that works with a tablet.
The patent describes a keyboard accessory that works with a tablet.
This isn’t the first time Apple has explored a Mac hybrid device. Back in July 2023, Apple was granted a patent for “Modularized computing and input devices,” which describes a MacBook-like device with removable components that can be interchanged with each other. For example, two displays can be connected to work with one keyboard/trackpad. It’s not clear if these two patents are along the same product line, but it’s clear that Apple is looking for ways to evolve Mac hardware.
It’s important to note that Apple (like every other company) files patents all the time for devices that never actually get released to the general public. If these products are approved for production, it will take years before they reach the market.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor
Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started at MacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.