May 24, 2024 11:18:00

Apple's first foldable device, a 'full-display foldable MacBook,' could arrive in 2026

Apple has long been

rumored to be developing a foldable display, but industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is well-known for his leaks of Apple-related information, has predicted that the company's first foldable device will be a 'full-display foldable MacBook' that will be released in 2026, based on information he has obtained from suppliers and other related parties.

Apple's first foldable product — the full-screen foldable MacBook survey update | by Ming-Chi Kuo | May, 2024 | Medium
https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/0a78c2772568

All-screen M5 MacBook with foldable display now rumored for 2026 - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2024/05/23/all-screen-m5-macbook-with-foldable-display-rumored-for-2026/

According to Kuo, LG Display , a subsidiary of South Korea's LG, will be the exclusive supplier of the foldable display that Apple is developing. Apple is considering using 20.25-inch and 18.8-inch display panels, and the difference between the two display panels will be the form factor when folded. The 20.25-inch display panel will be the same size as a 14-15-inch MacBook when folded, and the 18.8-inch display panel will be the same size as a 13-14-inch MacBook when folded.

The target timeline for mass production of foldable display panels is now expected to be between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first half of 2026, more than a year earlier than previously expected, and Apple's first foldable MacBook is expected to feature an unannounced M5 series chip.

From the development stage of the folding display, Apple's design goal is to 'avoid creases.' To achieve this, very high design specifications are required, so the cost of the display panel and hinges will be very high. At the time of writing, tentative estimates are that the display panel will cost about $600 to $650 (about 94,000 to 102,000 yen) and the hinges about $200 to $250 (about 31,000 to 39,000 yen). However, if production yields improve significantly by the time of mass production, these costs may decrease.

Developing a high-quality foldable display with no visible creases requires high-quality display panels and hinges. Apple has selected LG Display as its development partner for the display panel and Amphenole as its development partner for the hinge. Until now, Apple has only worked with a single manufacturer to develop each component, focusing its resources on overcoming the manufacturing challenges brought about by its innovative design. For example, the periscope camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max was developed in partnership with LGIT (camera module) and Largan (lens).

Given the high cost of the display panel and hinges, the selling price of the foldable MacBook could be very high. If Apple can significantly improve yields before mass production, the cost can be reduced, but Kuo pointed out that the BOM cost of the foldable MacBook at the time of writing will be comparable to that of the Apple Vision Pro. However, it is clear that the number of foldable MacBooks shipped will be greater than that of the Apple Vision Pro, with shipments expected to exceed 1 million units in 2026.