A new report from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that Apple could ship more than 1 million devices with a 20-inch folding display in 2026, a shift from his previous projection that it would start shipping in 2027.
1. Panel supplier and possible size spec: LGD is the exclusive panel supplier. In addition to the 20.25″ option, Apple is also considering using an 18.8″ panel instead. The difference between these two sizes is their folded form factor, corresponding to the design of 14–15″ and 13–14″ laptops, respectively.
2. Production schedule and processor: The target mass production schedule for the panel and assembly is 4Q25 and 1H26, respectively (compared to the previous estimate of 2027). This product is expected to use the M5 series processor.
3. Crease-free panel as a design goal, resulting in very high panel and hinge costs: Apple aims to make the panel as crease-free as possible, requiring high design specifications for both the panel and the hinge. As a result, the cost of the panel and hinge is very high. Current preliminary estimates put the panel and hinge costs at around $600–650 and $200–250, respectively. If production yields improve significantly by the time of mass production, these costs could decrease.
4. LGD (panel) and Amphenol (hinge) are currently Apple’s exclusive development partners: A high level of integration between the panel and hinge is required to address the crease issue. LGD and Amphenol are the exclusive development partners for the panel and the hinge, respectively. Based on experience, Apple typically collaborates with only one manufacturer to focus resources on overcoming the manufacturing challenges posed by innovative designs. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s tetraprism (periscope) camera was developed in partnership with LGIT (module) and Largan (lens).
5. BOM cost/pricing and shipment estimates: Given the high cost of the display and hinge, the foldable MacBook is likely to be expensive. Unless Apple can significantly improve yields and reduce costs before mass production, the BOM cost of the foldable MacBook could approach that of the current Vision Pro. However, due to the more defined product positioning of the foldable MacBook, the shipments are expected to be significantly higher than those of the Vision Pro. Shipments are estimated to exceed 1 million units in 2026.
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(And, yes, yes, MacBooks have always folded.)
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All iterative, sustaining improvements lacking the horsepower genius of a one-of-a-kind Steve Jobs. Keep it up, but Cook will never, ever be the caliber of Jobs, unfortunately obsessed with his queerness an gayness and intent on trying to convince us that forced software upgrades must include transgender and homosexual themed desktop pics, and so forth. Daddy was missing in action.
Careful. Your homophobia is a dead giveaway.
Sustaining versus Innovation. Pure Christensen, from the Harvard Review. Homo-proof logic.
“It’s hard to do both,” says David Duncan, a senior partner at Innosight who earned a Harvard Ph.D. in physics in 2000. “As successful companies get bigger, their growth trajectories flatten out, and they need to find new ways to expand. But that will look different from what they did in the past. Most are so focused on maintaining their core business that when push comes to shove, the core will almost always kill off the disruptive innovation—the new thing.”
What problem does this solve? So instead of a 16″ laptop I can fit a 18.8″ laptop in my bag with a smaller footprint? Who cares? How about an iPhone I can fit into my POCKET that doubles as an iPad when unfolded that tens of millions of people are ready for NOW even at $2000? Tim Cook: “Sure! It’s right around the corner, due to launch in 2026-27!”