The foldable phone market has been developing rapidly over the last five years, with some manufacturers even testing larger designs like laptops. However, Apple, one of the major smartphone manufacturers, has yet to enter the foldable device market.
There have been rumors before that the Cupertino-based company is working on at least two foldable devices. It is also known that one of them is a hybrid device between an iPad and a MacBook. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has previously shared on this subject, the company has once again postponed the release of its foldable device.
According to Kuo, the company has pushed back the assembly schedule of its first foldable device from early 2026 to late 2027 or even 2028. The device in question is expected to be a foldable MacBook, not an iPad as previously thought. Apple is said to have opted for an 18.8-inch screen size.
Apple to source foldable device displays from LG
The delay is being blamed on “technical difficulties” with the display and mechanical components. Apple is also rumored to have scrapped plans for a larger 20.25-inch device. Previous reports suggest LG will be the sole supplier for the foldable panels, with early estimates suggesting a cost of $600-$650 for the panel and $200-$250 for the hinge. These higher component prices are expected to push the final price of the device into the $3,500 range.