20-inch foldable MacBook rumored to launch as soon as 2026
Rumors from the supply chain suggest that Apple will roll out OLED not just to the iPad, but also to a folding MacBook Pro as soon as 2026.
A folding MacBook could be 20.25-inches unfolded
Rumors surrounding a folding Apple product have been circulating since Samsung launched its first foldable. Even as most expect an iPhone Fold sometime in the near future, some rumors suggest Apple is looking to larger folding displays too.
A report from supply chain analysts at The Elec suggests that Apple will produce a foldable with a 20.25-inch display that will fold shut into a 15.3-inch device. This product is expected to be a MacBook Pro, though it wouldn't be ready for release until 2026 or 2027.
Prior to the 20-inch folding MacBook, Apple will work its way up to that product by updating its product lines with similar technology first -- at least according to this report. The Elec has shared an entire roadmap from today's LCD products to the foldables of tomorrow.
Then, Apple would release OLED MacBooks in 2025. Later in 2025, Apple would release its first foldable -- an iPad mini-sized product. According to The Elec, Apple would never release a folding iPhone since the product has no reason to fold at such a small size.
A device that opens into a 7-inch tablet is more likely than a small folding phone
Then, finally, Apple would have reason, technology, and ability to release its 20.25-inch folding MacBook in 2026 or 2027.
The large-screen foldable rumor has been shared before by Ross Young at DSCC. However, the rest appears to be speculative at best, and should be treated as such.
Apple develops a lot of products internally that never see the light of day. Even some products make it to prototyping stages, like the mysterious Apple Magic Charger, and are canned at the last second. So, supply chain orders aren't always able to be tied to products that will exist.
Read on AppleInsider
A folding MacBook could be 20.25-inches unfolded
Rumors surrounding a folding Apple product have been circulating since Samsung launched its first foldable. Even as most expect an iPhone Fold sometime in the near future, some rumors suggest Apple is looking to larger folding displays too.
A report from supply chain analysts at The Elec suggests that Apple will produce a foldable with a 20.25-inch display that will fold shut into a 15.3-inch device. This product is expected to be a MacBook Pro, though it wouldn't be ready for release until 2026 or 2027.
Prior to the 20-inch folding MacBook, Apple will work its way up to that product by updating its product lines with similar technology first -- at least according to this report. The Elec has shared an entire roadmap from today's LCD products to the foldables of tomorrow.
Folding roadmap
First, Apple will transition the iPad to OLED in 2024, with an 11-inch iPad Pro and 12.9-inch iPad Pro sporting the technology. LG Display and Samsung Display are allegedly developing OLED for these products.Then, Apple would release OLED MacBooks in 2025. Later in 2025, Apple would release its first foldable -- an iPad mini-sized product. According to The Elec, Apple would never release a folding iPhone since the product has no reason to fold at such a small size.
A device that opens into a 7-inch tablet is more likely than a small folding phone
Then, finally, Apple would have reason, technology, and ability to release its 20.25-inch folding MacBook in 2026 or 2027.
Remain skeptical
The Elec is hit-and-miss when it comes to rumors. It tends to be most accurate when discussing supply chain information but isn't always able to determine product roadmaps.The large-screen foldable rumor has been shared before by Ross Young at DSCC. However, the rest appears to be speculative at best, and should be treated as such.
Apple develops a lot of products internally that never see the light of day. Even some products make it to prototyping stages, like the mysterious Apple Magic Charger, and are canned at the last second. So, supply chain orders aren't always able to be tied to products that will exist.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Let me fix that for you: Supply chain orders are NEVER able to be tied to products that are supposedly 4 or 5 years down the road.
Unfolded at 180° on a stand: AIO computer.
Unfolded at 180° flat on a table: desk tablet.
Folded 100 to 140°: laptop.
Folded 360°: tablet. Thick, but still a tablet.
You could do a big version of a laptop where you have it at 180° flat on a table and connected to an external display, and use it as the input device. So software keyboard, software trackpad, Pencil, whatever else UI, for input and control of stuff on the vertical external display.
The iPad can be a 6mm thick device. Folded in half, about 12mm. Actually thinner than the original iPad, first 3 gens of iPhone, and as thick as the M2 MBA or the iMac 24.
They need to get iPadOS mature with more windowing, more multitasking, more functionality, which is probably more work.
Presentations to small groups, where one side has the material full screen the other has presenter view, notes, timers etc.
But could see a number of way I'd use that mode. with 2 people being able to collaborate and still face each other.
Yes OS Is key iPadOS is missing some key features that are impediments to Pro level software needed.
Both UI but lower level UX like being able to (maybe even streamline) get plug-ins both commercial and user generated (mods) in to pro-apps without the need to go via the App Store review process. Sure have an in-app check that stops them exceeding the apps sandbox.
Current MacBook Pro is 15mm plus/including feet so yep 12 to 15mm would seem completely workable as device volume the market will stand
I have zero doubt that Apple could deliver any sort of Rube Goldberg inspired device they wanted to build. You have to ponder why current designs are where they are and what is holding them back from evolving. All laptop and desktop machines are still using a UI paradigm and mechanism that reached commercial popularity in the 1870s, i.e., the typewriter keyboard. Video displays are obviously much more contemporary and have been refined significantly since the Nixie tube, CRT, and teletype days. The evolution of display technology has always trended towards greater simplicity for the user, less mechanical complexity, and lower bulk and weight. Nobody wants to reverse that trend, so it’s a pretty big hurdle for Apple to overcome if they only focus on mechanical and material tricks.
Maybe Elon Musk is pointing us towards the future with his brain implant technology. Perhaps sometime soon we’ll be able to play Pong against chimps using the holographic displays projected from a credit card sized computer, using only our BrainX full self driving brain implants for control. I never thought that landing massive tube shaped rockets vertically made any sense, but it’s now a routine thing.
Originally they were portables then someone made one light enough decided they wanted to promote that.
A another change with enough functional advantage will have the market force to change the name.