When Steve Jobs first introduced the iPad, he called it a third category of device. One that would do certain things better than a laptop or smartphone. But what happens when foldable iPhones can operate as both smartphone and iPad equivalents? Does that third device disappear?Apples first foldable iPhone has been on my mind lately.Im especially excited by the idea of the iPhone Fold offering iPad mini-like utility.For years, I owned and loved the iPad mini. But a decade ago when I made the iPad Pro my full-time computer, I wasnt keen on the idea of using two iPads, and the iPad mini fell out of my life.My 13-inch M4 iPad Pro is basically a laptop though, since I keep it in the Magic Keyboard 24/7. So I dont benefit from the tablet part of the iPad very much.As a result, theres something I very much miss about my tiny iPad mini.It kind of gets to Steve Jobs core proposition when he first introduced the iPad.Back in 2010, on the heels of the iPhones early success, Jobs proposed that there was space for a third category of device that fits between the smartphone and laptop.This device was the iPad.Jobs demonstrated on stage how iPad was better than both the iPhone and Mac for certain tasks. For example, light web browsing, watching videos, and checking email.He made a compelling case for the iPads existence, but it hung on this argument.If theres going to be a third category of device, its going to have to be better at these kinds of tasks than a laptop or a smartphone, otherwise it has no reason for being.Over the years, many have questioned the iPads reason for being.Some users, like myself, rely on it as their main computer. For others, its a casual device for entertainment and light tasks.As iPhones have gotten larger, and Macs have gotten sleeker, the iPad has had to fight harder to set itself apart.And soon, with foldable iPhones, that could become a much tougher battle.The iPads not going anywhere any time soon.For starters, the first iPhone Fold will almost certainly be a niche device. Its ultra-premium price tagwhich some expect to hit $2,000will leave plenty of room for the $349 iPad to keep selling well.But what happens five years from now?If foldables prove successful, Apple will likely offer a lot more of them, and at much more appealing price points.Next years iPhone Fold is expected to have a 5.5-inch outer display and 7.8-inch inner one.This will make it moderately small compared to current iPhones when folded, and similar to an iPad mini when unfolded.But history has repeatedly shown that users love big iPhones.It wouldnt surprise me to see several different foldable iPhones in a variety of sizes in the years ahead, replacing more of Apples current iPhone lineup, but also potentially its iPads.Over time, the iPad may continue on as a niche, budget-friendly device. Or get its own ultra-premium, huge foldable version. But for most people? I suspect the need for an iPad will disappear, as the product gets absorbed into foldable iPhones.I am an artist. I paint on my big iPad. It has to have an absolutely flat, solid, smooth surface. Put a hinge in it and it wont. A folding phone will not ever replace an iPad for me. View all commentsWhen Steve Jobs was around, that third category of device truly did have value. But with folding smartphones, the game could change.I love the iPad, but we may soon enter the early stages of its logical end.Do you think foldable iPhones will eventually cause the iPad to fade away? Let us know in the comments.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel