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Apple's foldable device has been delayed again.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed in his latest tweet that Apple's first foldable MacBook has beenThe original release date of 2026 has been postponed to the end of 2027 or 2028.This is related to some recent changes in the internals. Guo Mingchi pointed out that this foldable MacBook has changed from design to material selection, which may be the main reason for the delay.

(Photo source: X)

Since flexible OLED panels began to enter the consumer market, we have seen the emergence of many foldable electronic products, such as foldable screen mobile phones, foldable screen laptops, etc. Among them, foldable screen mobile phones have become one of the fastest growing categories in the smartphone market.

Apple has been rumored to be exploring the feasibility of foldable devices since 2021, such as the foldable iPhone, which has appeared in the leaked information of many industry insiders. It is understood thatCurrently, all of Apple’s foldable product projects are being delayed, which makes people wonder what is causing these "innovative" projects of Apple to be delayed again and again?

Why do Apple's foldable screen products keep being delayed?

Foldable screen phones were first launched by Royole in 2018, followed by Samsung and Huawei, which released Galaxy Z Fold and Mate X products for the consumer market. The initial foldable screen phones had problems such as being heavy, not durable, and poor software adaptation, and did not cause a huge sensation in the early days of their release.

However, with the entry of a large number of manufacturers, OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, Honor and other manufacturers have provided their own solutions, the products have become more mature, and consumer acceptance has also increased. A recent report released by market research firm Techinsights pointed out that in the first quarter of 2024, global sales of foldable screen mobile phones achieved a year-on-year growth of 257%, with positive growth for six consecutive quarters.

Around 2021, Apple was reported to be exploring the feasibility of launching a foldable device, but ultimately set its sights on the iPad and Mac, two product lines with greater productivity requirements. The foldable MacBook was confirmed as a project in 2023, and the initial release date was set for the fall of 2026, but the latest news indicates that the release date has been postponed again.

(Image source: Appleinsider)

According to Kuo Ming-Chi, the size of the foldable MacBook has changed from 20.25 inches to 18.8 inches. When folded, it will remain between 13 and 14 inches, similar to the current MacBook. Xiao Lei believes that the reason why Apple reduced the size of the display panel is related to the fact that the current display technology does not meet the requirements. At the same time, considering many factors such as portability and adaptability, the foldable MacBook will not exceed 20 inches in the end.

In addition, the previously rumored foldable iPad is no longer on the supply chain list. Either Apple has completely canceled the project, or there are reports that mistakenly identified the foldable MacBook as an iPad.

In any case, the foldable screen device market is now mature, but Apple, one of the world's largest consumer electronics manufacturers, has not yet launched any related devices, which is actually puzzling. However, Apple's "conservatism" can also be traced. For example, Apple introduced a full-screen design in the iPhone X, added 5G functions to the iPhone 12 series, and the periscope telephoto on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. These technologies were not launched on the market when they were launched.

(Image source: Wistia)

visible,Apple may prefer to launch foldable screen products when the technology is mature, the supply chain is stable and the cost is controllable, to ensure that its products can meet consumers' consistent high expectations for the brand after they are launched on the market.Kuo also said that the foldable MacBook will not be priced too cheaply and may be comparable to the price of the Vision Pro. After the disappointment of the Vision Pro, Apple may need to develop a more comprehensive pricing strategy to avoid repeating the same mistake.

Is it really necessary to make the MacBook foldable?

In the current market, foldable laptops are gradually entering the field of vision of consumers, such as Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold and Asus' ZenBook Fold. These products use the unique design of folding screens to provide users with larger screen space and portability, trying to find a balance between tablets and traditional laptops.

Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold is equipped with a 13.3-inch OLED folding screen, which can be unfolded to 17.3 inches, providing users with a hybrid experience between a tablet and a laptop. Asus' ZenBook 17 Fold OLED has a 17.3-inch foldable display, which is almost the size of a desktop monitor when unfolded.The prices of these products are not low either, usually above US$2,500, and are positioned in the high-end market.

(Image source: ASUS)

In contrast, MacBook, as a representative of traditional laptop computers, still follows the design concept of a single screen and fixed keyboard, with diverse functions but a fixed form.

It is not surprising that Apple has prioritized the design of foldable MacBooks. First of all, the significance of the foldable design is that it breaks the form factor of traditional laptops and combines the functions of laptops and tablets. By folding the screen, users can freely switch between laptop mode, tablet mode, and even hybrid mode to adapt to different usage scenarios.

Considering that macOS 15 already supports using iPhone on MacBook through screen mapping, this multi-device, multi-modal interoperability operation logic will surely become a trend in the future. Of course, as we mentioned earlier, the foldable design also brings some problems, such asScreen creases, hinge durability, and software adaptation, etc.

(Image source: Apple)

According to data from market research firm IDC, global shipments of foldable notebooks will reach 500,000 units in 2023, which is still insignificant compared to traditional notebooks.But the year-on-year growth rate is close to 200%., showing the potential of this market. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, the foldable screen laptop market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 30% in the next five years.

It is foreseeable that the market prospects of foldable screen laptops are boundless. This is not just a "pseudo-demand" created by technological progress, but also a result of consumers' changing usage scenarios. They are more concerned about whether the device can cope with more usage needs than before, and more importantly, whether it can balance performance while maintaining a certain degree of portability. This is why the current Arm architecture laptop market is also very hot.

(Image source: 9to5Mac)

However, for now, foldable designs have not attracted more attention from consumers in the laptop market. On the one hand, most of these products are aimed at professional fields, such as ZenBook Fold, whose multi-modal solution is more suitable for business people who have reading, creation and text needs at the same time; on the other hand, the price, whether it is ASUS or Lenovo, their foldable laptops are priced much higher than ordinary thin and light notebooks.

The foldable MacBook also needs to take these realistic factors into consideration. If it cannot reach a wide range of consumers, it may only become the second Vision Pro. Even with powerful hardware configuration, not many consumers are willing to pay for it.

Foldable MacBook, or will become the next VisionPro

The postponement of the launch of the foldable MacBook is a foregone conclusion. Perhaps before it is officially released, Apple still needs to consider the market's acceptance.

First, the high cost of the foldable MacBook may become a major factor hindering its popularity.Currently, the price of foldable notebooks on the market is usually between $2,500 and $3,500, which is much higher than the average price of ordinary notebooks. If Apple launches a foldable MacBook, the price may rise further, which will make the product positioning more professional and may be difficult for ordinary consumers to afford.

Second, the complexity of folding screens may also increase learning and maintenance costs.For those who are used to the traditional MacBook operation, it may take some time to adapt to the new mode of folding screen. The repair and maintenance costs of folding screen devices may also be higher, which may make the threshold of folding MacBook higher.

Overall, the launch of the foldable MacBook may meet the needs of the high-end market, but it also means that Apple needs to find a balance between price and user experience to ensure that this product is popular with consumers, rather than becoming a "luxury product" for technology enthusiasts like the Vision Pro.