Friday, March 8th 2024

Apple Reportedly Developing 20.3-inch Foldable MacBook for 2027 Launch

by
AleksandarK
 Discuss (14 Comments)
According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is actively working on a foldable 20.3-inch MacBook, with mass production expected to begin in 2027. In a recent post on X/Twitter, Kuo stated that this foldable MacBook is currently Apple's only foldable product with a clear development schedule. Kuo's revelation comes amidst frequent inquiries about whether Apple plans to mass-produce a foldable iPhone or iPad in 2025 or 2026. His latest survey indicates that while Apple may explore these options, the foldable MacBook is the only device with a definitive timeline. This is not the first time rumors have circulated about a potential foldable MacBook from Apple. In 2022, display industry analyst Ross Young and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman both reported that Apple was interested in launching a foldable device with a screen size of around 20 inches.

Details about the foldable MacBook's design remain scarce, but it is expected to feature a single foldable OLED display that can be used in various configurations, such as a laptop mode with a virtual keyboard on the lower half of the screen or as a large tablet when fully unfolded. While competitors like Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei have already released foldable smartphones, Apple appears to be more cautious, focusing on perfecting the technology before bringing a product to market. As the foldable device market evolves, it will be interesting to see how Apple's unique take on the form factor fares. As Apple's first foldable product, it will be interesting to see what design choices are made and what hardware configuration will be present. But we are still relatively far away from the actual release of 2027.
Sources: Ming-Chi Kuo, via AppleInsider

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14 Comments on Apple Reportedly Developing 20.3-inch Foldable MacBook for 2027 Launch

#1
kondamin
They probably have something similar in prototype but there is no way they would introduce that before a fold able phone or tablet
Posted on Reply
#2
Dr. Dro
Unless there are major strides in foldable OLED technology and the seam in the middle can be entirely done away with to the point that when opened, it looks as if there is no fold at all, I don't want this device. My experience with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has shown me that the technology as a proof of concept works, but at that point in time, it still had major drawbacks regarding durability and reliability. If the device was cheap and could easily be replaced, i'd be a lot more lenient, but such hardware is anything but that.
Posted on Reply
#3
atomek
What an idiots. Now you have to look at the keyboard when you type on a "laptop". Losing all haptics is such a stupid idea that it could have been born in the heads of marketing people. And it happened just as people were starting to realise how bad the lack of physical controls was in cars like Tesla. If Apple is too dumb to innovate maybe they should at least follow Samsung or others.
Posted on Reply
#4
NC37
Why not just make a 2 n 1 laptop like everyone else and do something different with the Macbook line for once? Sure it's not new and innovative but, Macs are grossly behind the times anyways. For a brand that touted itself as "Think Different" and being the "Crazy Ones" who go against the grain, Apple under Cook is just nothing but brushed metal and more of the same that Jobs started.
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#5
Noyand
atomekWhat an idiots. Now you have to look at the keyboard when you type on a "laptop". Losing all haptics is such a stupid idea that it could have been born in the heads of marketing people. And it happened just as people were starting to realise how bad the lack of physical controls was in cars like Tesla. If Apple is too dumb to innovate maybe they should at least follow Samsung or others.
I meanSamsumg literally showcased a prototype of a foldable laptop.
NC37Why not just make a 2 n 1 laptop like everyone else and do something different with the Macbook line for once? Sure it's not new and innovative but, Macs are grossly behind the times anyways. For a brand that touted itself as "Think Different" and being the "Crazy Ones" who go against the grain, Apple under Cook is just nothing but brushed metal and more of the same that Jobs started.
Sandblasted metal*. It's much nicer than brushed metal
Posted on Reply
#6
Guwapo77
I am actually all for it as long as it can function as two full screen independent of each other. I can stand it on its side and use it as a dual screen laptop with an external keyboard and mouse. I know that super niche, but if it has that capability, I will start selling plasma now.
Posted on Reply
#7
Lew Zealand
"Apple Reportedly"

Words that will forever live in infamy.
Posted on Reply
#8
wawa
Dr. DroUnless there are major strides in foldable OLED technology and the seam in the middle can be entirely done away with to the point that when opened, it looks as if there is no fold at all, I don't want this device. My experience with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has shown me that the technology as a proof of concept works, but at that point in time, it still had major drawbacks regarding durability and reliability. If the device was cheap and could easily be replaced, i'd be a lot more lenient, but such hardware is anything but that.
I don't have a foldable yet but I do have two direct family members who have the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5. I see them using it all the time and I will be honest, it's convinced me to get a foldable for my next phone. Their device is just demonstrably better than my slab iPhone and it's not even close in my opinion... The crease is a crease but in my time of watching them use their Fold 5, it's completely ignorable. The device is sturdy and the assumed fragility frankly does not exist.
Posted on Reply
#9
R0H1T
NoyandI meanSamsumg literally showcased a prototype of a foldable laptop.
I mean you've obviously missed the Galaxy fold or flip phones, or have you?
Dr. DroMy experience with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has shown me that the technology as a proof of concept works, but at that point in time, it still had major drawbacks regarding durability and reliability.
Just wait for those air(projection?) phones that we see in movies :pimp:
Posted on Reply
#10
Dr. Dro
wawaI don't have a foldable yet but I do have two direct family members who have the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5. I see them using it all the time and I will be honest, it's convinced me to get a foldable for my next phone. Their device is just demonstrably better than my slab iPhone and it's not even close in my opinion... The crease is a crease but in my time of watching them use their Fold 5, it's completely ignorable. The device is sturdy and the assumed fragility frankly does not exist.
I've seen the Flip 5 and it seems that they are markedly improved over the 4th generation phones. They fold flat, for instance, and have a shallower crease, that's a very big improvement over the Flip 3 and 4. I expect the Fold 5 does about the same. It's getting there. My word of advice though, they're very, very fragile if you're used to an iPhone's resilience. It might not look that way, but they definitely aren't rugged as you seem to believe. At least the Flip 3 was not. Do be careful with your device, the screen replacement costs about as much as a new one.
Posted on Reply
#11
Noyand
R0H1TI mean you've obviously missed the Galaxy fold or flip phones, or have you?
The person that I was responding to seemed to have an issue with foldable laptops, not foldable phones. (As you can read below). I was just showing that Samsung did think about making a foldable laptop before Apple. (heck, Lenovo even got one available right now) I don't understand why I'm being attacked over foldable phones tbh :confused:
atomekWhat an idiots. Now you have to look at the keyboard when you type on a "laptop". Losing all haptics is such a stupid idea that it could have been born in the heads of marketing people. And it happened just as people were starting to realise how bad the lack of physical controls was in cars like Tesla. If Apple is too dumb to innovate maybe they should at least follow Samsung or others.
Posted on Reply
#12
R0H1T
I guess it's a response to both of you, not sure if you have an issue with foldables or not, but I really don't see a foldable laptop working! The force applied near the center of the screen would be massive as compared to a phone, that in itself would probably result in a lot more cracks/screen failures et al. Samsung does a lot of this protype stuff which doesn't make it to mass market but I really hope they don't try this first, let Apple take a dip with their $3 trillion toes :toast:
Posted on Reply
#13
Noyand
R0H1TI guess it's a response to both of you, not sure if you have an issue with foldables or not, but I really don't see a foldable laptop working! The force applied near the center of the screen would be massive as compared to a phone, that in itself would probably result in a lot more cracks/screen failures et al. Samsung does a lot of this protype stuff which doesn't make it to mass market but I really hope they don't try this first, let Apple take a dip with their $3 trillion toes :toast:
The thing is, if you look at Apple's track record, they aren't trying to get first dibs on the latest tech, if anything they've been quite conservative in that regard, and would rather wait for new technologies to mature. They've been late to market with many things... If they planned to release a foldable around 2027, it means that Samsung display or LG told them that they would be able to make better foldable screens around that time...and Lenovo went to market with their 16" foldable laptop already. But it's so incredibly niche it's hard to find horror stories about it.

But NGL, a 20" foldable laptop is weird. The thing is going to be massive unfolded, it sounds like some kind of hybrid workstation meant to be used on a stand unfolded, and as a laptop folded. With a 3:2 aspect ratio, you are still looking at something of at least 42cm in width !

Posted on Reply
#14
trsttte
I have nothing against foldable screens once the tech matures, but for a laptop? That's just silly, why!? Touch keyboards have always been noticeably worse and don't really have a meaningfull advantage over a regular laptop, sure you'll get an extra large screen to use once in a blue moon but most of the time you're wasting a screen displaying a keyboard all the time. Makes no sense to me.

Now phones and tablets that's a different story, you get a larger screen that's still pocketable or purse-able
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