Apple may launch a new MacBook model with a foldable display in the coming years, according to details shared by TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a blog post on Thursday, Kuo claims that Apple is considering two screen sizes for the upcoming foldable MacBook and has selected exclusive suppliers for the display and hinge components. The device will also have a high bill of materials (BOM) and a high retail price when it launches, according to the analyst.
Apple is reportedly working on a foldable MacBook
The panel for the foldable MacBook will be exclusively supplied by LG Display, according to Kuo, and the analyst says Apple is considering using an 18.8-inch or 20.25-inch screen — resulting in 13-inch and 14-inch laptop sizes. when folded. Meanwhile, the hinges for the foldable laptop will reportedly be supplied by Amphenol.
Hours after Kuo predicted these screen sizes, Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) CEO and co-founder Ross Young also said that Apple is working on a MacBook with a foldable screen. In a subscriber-only post (via MacRumors ) on Xu (formerly Twitter), Young says the cost of manufacturing the device led Apple to go with an 18.76-inch screen instead of the larger 20.25-inch screen.
A foldable MacBook for high material volume
Apple relied on high design specifications for the panel and hinge on the upcoming foldable MacBook model in an effort to make the display “as crease-free as possible,” according to Kuo, who adds that manufacturing costs for the panel and hinge are currently as high as $650 (roughly $54,100 Rs) or USD 250 (roughly Rs. 20,800).
As a result, Kuo says the BOM cost of the first-generation foldable MacBook could be close to the BOM cost of the Apple Vision Pro that the company launched in February. However, it remains to be seen whether the MacBook will be priced as high as Apple’s $3,499 (roughly Rs. 2.91 lakh) headset. Kuo says the foldable laptop is expected to ship more than 1 million units a year after launch.
Apple’s foldable MacBook launch timeline (expected)
According to the analyst, Apple will launch the first foldable MacBook in the first half of 2026. The device is expected to be powered by Apple’s M5 chip, and production for the display is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. More details about the device, including its specifications and software features, are expected to surface online in the coming months.
