Ever Trend Zone Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected a foldable MacBook to be released in 2026, but now says the timeline has been pushed back to 2027 or 2028.
He also says that work on a foldable iPad “still cannot be seen” in Apple’s supply chain, but Markgerman gives this the same date…
A brief note about kuo
I have previously pointed out that Kuo’s reliability is not close to where it was before.
Kuo was once the most reliable Apple analyst and had a supply chain source for Rock Solid, but now he posts a lot of mere speculations. I think the change in his employment means that he is no longer able to talk to Apple’s suppliers for a lot of time on China’s ground.
In 2023, Kuo points out that the folded iPad was “positive” in 2024, when it was released. He now brushes that prediction and says he can’t see signs of it in the supply chain.
Previously, some market participants were hoping that Apple would launch a folding iPad in 2025, but current supply chain research shows that folding iPads are not yet displayed.
Garman: Fold your iPad in 2027 or 2028
Bloomberg’s Mark Garman retweeted Kuo, pointing to his own report that there was no visibility as it has not been anticipated for several years.
As we reported last week, the foldable iPad hasn’t come until 2027 or 2028: “It’s working on a huge, foldable iPad. According to people with knowledge of this effort, it may not arrive until 2027 or 2028.”
Kuo: Fold your MacBook in 2027 or 2028
In the same tweet, Kuo said the folding MacBook project was delayed in 2027 or 2028.
Foldable MacBook Survey Update: Mass production times are significantly delayed.
1. The final size is 18.8 inches, and Apple cancelled its 20.25 inches design.
2. Technical challenges such as displays and mechanisms have extended assembly and mass production times from 1H26 to the end of 2027 or 2028.
evertrendzone take
We have been debating for years the possibility of confusion between three products: foldable iPhones, iPads and Macs.
For example, a small folding mobile device can be considered a folding iPhone to unfold on an iPad, or a folding iPad to fold into a (thick) iPhone-sized device. A much larger folding device could be a huge iPad. Or a MacBook with a soft keyboard (UGH!) or a MacBook with a foldable screen and a removable hard keyboard.
If you have a source based on the assumptions based on the individual components found in Apple’s supply chain, it will be nearly impossible to say what a product actually is. Is it hinged by a MacBook one or a MacBook style hinge on a foldable iPad?
Even Kuo admits this, arrogant assumption that his own view is correct.
In summary, there are:
- Intrinsic confusion between foldable iPhone and iPad
- More potential confusion between foldable iPads and Zenbook-style MacBooks
- Kuo’s great reliability
- The fact that even Apple’s plans for 2027 or 2028 are still not solid
All of these reports need to be treated as highly speculative for now. Apple’s plans need to make significant progress before more reliable metrics appear in the supply chain. Still, it’s difficult to distinguish a foldable iPhone from a folding iPad.
