Apple is working on foldable full-screen devices. However, unlike competitors, the company seems to be focusing not on foldable smartphones and tablets, but on foldable laptops with full screen.
Ming-Chi Kuo previously reported that Apple is developing a 20.3-inch device MacBook. for 2027, but today an analyst shared a few key new details about the futuristic MacBook model. One such detail is that Apple is now planning to launch the product in 2026.
Expected characteristics of the first all-screen MacBook
Here are some of the key features Kuo expects to see in the all-screen MacBook:
- Multiple folding screen options are still possible, with a 20.3-inch display rumored to be available strong> could potentially be replaced by an 18.8-inch panel. The former will fold to resemble the current 14-15″ MacBook, while the latter will better fit a modern 13-14″ model such as the smaller MacBook Air.
- A The device is expected to debut in 2026 , a year earlier than previously reported.
- The MacBook is expected to receive an M5 series chip, which is in line with the expected schedule for M4 to be rolled out across the entire Mac line by the end of 2025 .
- Apple's goal is to provide crease-free designfor foldable device. display.
Here's Kuo on Apple's design ambitions:
Apple strives to make the panel as sleek as possible, requiring high design requirements for both the panel and the hinges. As a result, the cost of panel and hinge is very high. Current early estimates place the cost of the panel and hinge at around $600-$650 and $200-$250 respectively.
This high component cost means this MacBook is expected to reach a starting price that significantly exceeds Apple's current line of laptops. Kuo writes:
Given the high cost of the display and hinge, the foldable MacBook is likely will be expensive. Unless Apple can significantly improve performance and reduce costs before mass production, the BOM cost of the foldable MacBook could approach that of the current Vision Pro.
9to5Mac's Opinion
The foldable all-screen MacBook sounds like a futuristic device in many ways. Not only has Apple never produced a foldable all-screen laptop, but the idea that a MacBook might arrive without a physical keyboard or trackpad seems unlikely. 2026 is still a long way off, but if this new planned release date does indeed hold true, we should expect to see a steady stream of additional reports about the device in the months and years ahead.
