Apr 21, 2017 08:22 AM EDT By Avery Robbins, UniversityHerald Reporter

Apple could bring a radical change to the iPad Pro 2 as the reports suggest that it is combining the MacBook Air and iPad Air features into the next-gen tablet while giving it a new chassis, a foldable screen.

In the near future, a folding device might not be just a dream as the trend is moving toward such design. Apple, in particular, seems to be looking at the same direction with Samsung as a recent report hints at a foldable iPad coming soon. Furthermore, Apple is said to equip the next iPad Pro with laptop features to make it a rival of Windows-based laptops. How is that possible?

MacBook Air, iPad Air Reportedly Discontinued

The first report that could back up the claim is likely from Apple itself. The Cupertino company decided to discontinue iPad Air and released the new iPad 2017 instead. The budget tablet, however, is lacking all of Pro features but Apple will launch another two tablets this year, with cutting-edge features reportedly on par with those found in a laptop, NYmag reported.

Starting from the use of Apple's powerful A10x Fusion chip, more tactile keyboard to the wider app integration with Apple Pencil - if these are to be believed, the iPad Pro 2 will be looking much like a mini, portable, computing machine and less like a tablet.

On a side note, MacBook Pro without Touch Bar replaces the MacBook Air and that leaves Apple evangelists with limited choices to choose from. These facts could arguably be a strong reason that Apple might be making the iPad Pro 2 - a laptop-like device.

iPad Pro 2 Redesigned: The Rumor

iPad Pro 2 being a folding tablet is not a baseless rumor since a few pieces of evidence can back up the claim. Analyst Gene Muster predicted that Apple is going to create a foldable iPad Pro after a leaked patent shows a flexible smartphone unfolds into a tablet.

While this might be hard to accept, it is safe to assume that the iPad Pro 2 could be getting a laptop-like design. Additionally, a Japanese media outlet revealed that the bezel-free iPad will not have a physical home button but a Touch ID integrated into the screen, MacWorld reported.

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit