Fresh foldable rumors from Asia: The usually well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from the Taiwanese financial house TF International Securities believes that Apple is working on a large MacBook (Pro) that will come with a foldable screen for the first time. The hardware should have a screen area of 20.3 inches, writes Kuo on X. However, that will probably take quite a while.
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Long time horizon
“I've been getting a lot of questions lately about whether Apple will produce a foldable iPhone or iPad in 2025 or 2026,” said the analyst. However, he does not yet have any clear development schedules for this. This is consistent with information from previous reports, which only speak of prototypes. However, Kuo has heard that there is definitely a planned product – the said 20.3-inch MacBook.
However, the time horizon is long. He expects the new notebook to go into mass production in 2027. If this is the fourth quarter, the folding Mac could not come onto the market until 2028. Technical details regarding implementation are not yet available. However, there had already been speculation about such a device, including from well-known display analyst Ross Young and from Korean specialist media. Young spoke in January of a “20.5-inch model”.
The problem with the hinge
Apple has numerous patents from the foldable sector in its portfolio and has been researching the technology for years. However, this work has not yet resulted in a product. At the same time, Samsung and numerous Chinese manufacturers continue to bring new foldable smartphones onto the market, which Apple has nothing to counter. The company apparently doesn't consider the current hinge technology to be fully developed and wants to banish the “creativity” that foldables have had so far from the devices.
When it comes to MacBooks, there are currently only devices up to a maximum of 16 inches. The MacBook Pro M3 Pro and M3 Max currently weigh around 2.1 kilograms and are not exactly space-saving. Until 2012, there was also a 17-inch model that was even less portable. Kuo has no news about iPhones or iPads with foldable technology. It was recently reported that Apple is planning an iPad first and then an iPhone – but by no means before 2026.
(bsc)