Everything’s always two or three years away in Apple land, or at least all the more interesting new hardware is. For months, rumors have floated around that Tim Cook’s company is crafting some kind of 20-inch folding iPad or MacBook. Early hints slated it for 2026, but the latest word is Apple fans will need to give it until 2027 or 2028 before they can fold their MacBook screens.
The rumor comes from regular Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He wrote on Twitter late Wednesday that production delays have pushed the release until the end of 2027 or early 2028. Kuo originally suggested the folding MacBook would arrive in 2026. Anybody hoping for 2025 was being a little too enthusiastic. He wrote, “This may also be because some call this foldable MacBook a foldable iPad.”
Foldable MacBook survey update – mass production delayed significantly
1. Final display size spec confirmed at 18.8 inches. Apple has canceled the 20.25-inch design.
2. Due to technical challenges with the display and mechanical, the assembly mass production schedule has been… https://t.co/mPviHVeK0x— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 22, 2024
The most exciting idea behind Apple’s supposed foldable is that the company plans to eliminate that damn center-screen crease that still plagues all modern foldable phones. Kuo said that the iPhone maker has cut the reported larger 20.25-inch version and is keeping the near 19-inch foldable instead. Apple rumormonger-in-chief Mark Gurman confirmed Kuo’s report, reiterating that the “giant folding iPad” won’t arrive until 2027 or 2028 at the earliest. Gurman’s anonymous sources indicate the device is a tablet of some kind, almost like the rumored iPad on robot arm Apple reportedly has slated for 2026 as well.
The difference between the iPad and MacBook is stark, so the nomenclature matters. The iPad, even with iPadOS 18, is significantly more restrictive than macOS on the latest update. As much as we may enjoy the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air models, they are much harder to multitask with than they could be. Such a large screen would be better off with macOS than an iPad. So far, Apple has tried to keep its computer and tablet ecosystems separate despite our protests.
From what we’ve seen of current attempts at folding PCs, Apple has a lot of ground to cover beyond software. Folding Windows PCs like the HP Spectre Fold and Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold 16 suffered due to their slim form factor. They weren’t nearly as fast and powerful as your typical laptop. While the Thinkpad was far too small at 13 inches, the Spectre Fold was absolutely mammoth at 17 inches and fully extended. The concept behind the foldable PC is that you could use it as a laptop, then unfurl it and use it as a tablet or a pseudo desktop monitor. The Spectre was at least usable in monitor form, but a 17-inch tablet is just too big and unwieldy for most consumers save those with giant Hulk hands.
Apple’s supposed 18.8-inch foldable MacBook would truly be as “giant,” as Gurman reported. Apple would have to make it as thin and light as possible, which is a struggle considering how much work you need to do to have a big battery that can carry a user throughout the day. Kuo previously claimed that the folding MacBook would be ready for the M5 chip. Note that we’re currently on M4 and will probably see M4 MacBooks before the end of this year. At the rate Apple is currently pumping out chips, by 2027, we’ll be on the M6 or maybe even the M7.
