Apple MacBook with a 20-inch foldable display planned as foldable iPhone slips until the middle of the decade

Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, has published a report about the future of foldable mobile devices, including those with roll-out displays. Supposedly, Apple continues to develop foldable hardware, despite having released none to date. According to Young, Apple is focusing on two foldable devices and is looking beyond merely smartphones.

Purportedly, Apple is discussing with suppliers about the prospect of bringing a MacBook to market with a foldable display. Young adds that the foldable MacBook has a 20-inch display, much larger than Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold, pictured above. For reference, the ThinkPad X1 Fold has a 13.3-inch panel that sits within a thick frame. The ThinkPad X1 Fold has come down in price drastically since its release, although it remains at over US$1,400.

Apparently, the foldable MacBook will rely on a foldable keyboard, presumably like current iPads do. Alternatively, the device could be used as a small monitor paired with an external keyboard and mouse. However, Young states that a foldable MacBook may not arrive until 2027, or 2025 at the earliest.

Reputedly, Apple has shifted the launch window of a foldable iPhone until the middle of the decade, too. Initially, the device was rumoured to appear in 2023, likely challenging Samsung's fifth-generation foldable smartphones. If a 2025 launch for a foldable iPhone proves correct, Apple's first-generation technology will be up against seventh-generation competitors from Samsung.

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