Apple’s much-anticipated entry into the foldable machine phase might face a major delay, with a brand new report suggesting the corporate’s 18.8-inch foldable product won’t enter mass manufacturing in late 2026 as initially anticipated. The machine is now unlikely to be unveiled earlier than early 2027.
In keeping with a analysis be aware from Jeff Pu of GF Securities, cited byMacRumors, Apple’s plans for a bigger foldable show have been pushed again. The delay impacts the manufacturing and potential launch timeline of what many speculate may very well be a foldable pill or a brand new class of Mac machine. The product was beforehand anticipated to start mass manufacturing within the closing quarter of 2026, however this now seems unsure.
iPhone 18 Fold stays unaffected?
Regardless of the setback for the bigger foldable, Apple’s smaller foldable handset, rumoured to be a part of the iPhone 18 collection, appears unaffected. The analyst maintains that the so-callediPhone 18 Fold remains to be on monitor for a possible September 2026 launch, aligning with the tech large’s conventional annual iPhone launch schedule.
Pu additionally commented on Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 17 collection, which is due in September 2025. In keeping with his evaluation, the upgrades within the iPhone 17 lineup could also be modest in comparison with earlier years, with extra important modifications anticipated to reach with the iPhone 18 vary in 2026.
The 18.8-inch foldable machine, if launched, is anticipated to supply a dual-use expertise, functioning each as a high-end pill and a compact MacBook various. Apple’s approach seems to align with a rising pattern within the tech business the place gadgets are more and more designed to serve a number of functions in a single kind issue.
What earlier reviews steered
Stories had beforehand steered that each of Apple’s foldable devices, the large-screen mannequin and the foldable iPhone, have been deliberate to enter mass manufacturing across the identical time. Nevertheless, this newest growth implies a staggered timeline, with Apple probably debuting its first foldable iPhone forward of the bigger hybrid machine.
The iPhone 18 Fold, as soon as launched, is anticipated to compete instantly with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line, marking Apple’s first foray into the foldable smartphone phase.
Whereas Apple has not formally confirmed any plans for foldable devices, the rising physique of reviews and analyst notes point out that the corporate is actively exploring new kind components as a part of its long-term {hardware} technique.