For months, the rumor mill has been churning out jolted pieces of information about a foldable MacBook that could go official in the coming years. However, two reliable Apple tipsters have shed some light on the purported device, which reportedly is a foldable MacBook that could hit the market in 2026.
In a blog post published on May 23, 2024, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared some key details about the purported foldable MacBook. First, Kuo talked about LG being the exclusive panel supplier for Apple’s first foldable laptop.
Apple Is Considering Two Display Sizes For Its First Foldable MacBook
Apparently, Apple is considering two sizes for its foldable MacBook: a 20.25-inch option that folds into a 14 to 15-inch device and an 18.8-inch panel that folds into a 13 to 14-inch device. The company is targeting mass production by the fourth quarter of 2025 and assembly by first half of 2026. This indicates that the company could launch the foldable MacBook in 2026. Previously, the launch timeline was tipped to be in 2027.
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The Device Will Feature The Unreleased M5 Silicon
Interestingly, Kuo also predicts that the foldable MacBook will ship with Apple’s M5 Silicon, which isn’t official yet. Most recently, the company unveiled the vanilla M4 chip with the 2024 iPad Pro models. Hence, there’s a good chance that the M5 family of chipsets will be revealed in another year (or more).
In the past, we’ve seen Apple take its sweet time before implementing features that have existed outside its ecosystem for years. For instance, the always-on display arrived on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max years after being available on Android phones. However, the way Apple integrated the feature into its iPhone is fantastic.
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Apple Wants The Foldable MacBook To Be “As Crease-Free As Possible”
Similarly, Apple is taking a lot of time to reveal its first foldable laptop, but when it does, it will make sure that it is the best, most premium device available. To ensure this, the company is working with LG and Amphenol to develop the foldable display and hinge. Further, the company aims to make the panel “as crease-free as possible,” something that requires high design specifications.
Of Course, The Foldable MacBook Is Going To Be Expensive
This has resulted in higher manufacturing costs for both the foldable display and the hinge. Kuo states that Apple is spending around $600 to $650 to develop the high-quality display and $200 to $250 for the hinge. It is only if the production yield improves that the cost of mass production could come down significantly. You might have guessed where we’re leading with the higher manufacturing costs — the foldable MacBook’s price.
“Given the high cost of display and hinge, the foldable MacBook is likely to be expensive,” says Kuo in his blog post. The BOM cost (bill of materials) of the foldable MacBook could be as much as that of the Vision Pro, which retails for $3,499 for the baseline model. Even with a higher cost, Apple expects to ship one million units, which is pretty ambitious.
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After Kuo predicted the display sizes, the manufacturing partners, and the expected manufacturing cost of the purported foldable MacBook, Ross Young, another renowned Apple analyst, added to the conversation. He says (via a MacRumors report) that Apple has dropped the idea of the 20.25-inch display. Considering the higher BOM, the company is moving ahead with the 18.76-inch display that folds into a 13 to 14-inch device.
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