Apple's 18.8-Inch Foldable Device to Enter Mass Production in Late 2026

[MacRumors]

Along with an iPhone "Fold," Apple is believed to be working on a larger foldable device that's somewhere around 19 inches, and one analyst suggests it could arrive as soon as late next year alongside Apple's rumored foldable iPhone.

In a new research note covering likely post-tariff scenarios for Apple, investment firm GF Securities' lead analyst Jeff Pu says that both 18.8-inch and 7.8-inch foldable devices have seen development progress and are forecast to enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Pu said as much last month, when he claimed that Apple's first two foldable devices had recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn. Depending on exactly when mass production begins in the second half of 2026, the devices could launch either later next year, or at some point in 2027.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple is working on a foldable ‌iPad‌ with a 20-inch display that will come out in 2028, while analyst Ross Young has said that he expects a foldable tablet-like device in 2026 or 2027, so it's safe to say there's uncertainty about a launch date. There also appear to be conflicting reports about what kind of device the larger foldable will be.

Pu believes the foldable device that Apple is working on will be a MacBook-iPad hybrid with a touch-based screen and support for macOS. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also referred to Apple's larger foldable device as a MacBook, while Ross Young has also written about Apple's work on a notebook with an 18.8-inch display. The Wall Street Journal said in December that Apple is working on a 19-inch MacBook with a foldable screen.

However, Gurman has referred to Apple's large-screened foldable device as an ‌iPad‌, as has research firm Omdia. Whether the large-screened foldable is ultimately an ‌iPad‌ or a Mac will come down to the operating system that Apple is planning to use. If the device runs macOS, it'll be in the Mac family, and if it runs iPadOS, it'll be in the ‌iPad‌ family. Gurman has claimed that some of the design updates that Apple is making in iOS 19 and macOS 16 to unify the operating systems will pave the way for foldable devices and touchscreen Macs, so a hybrid is also a possibility.

• Foldable iPhone Expected Next Year: All the Rumored Features So Far

All in all, the details of Apple's larger foldable device remain murky. That's in contrast to rumors about Apple's smaller book-style foldable iPhone, which have recently been converging on a 2026 release.

Article Link: Apple's 18.8-Inch Foldable Device to Enter Mass Production in Late 2026

 

[TechWhisperer]

Which means that the actual release date will be pushed back to 2029, barring any further development challenges or strategic shifts in the company's timeline.

 

[ridgero]

Due to tariff increase it will probably only cost 8000,- in Europe.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Due to tariff increase it will probably only cost 8000,- in Europe.

And $25,000 US Dollar in the USA 🤣

But yes, notwithstanding that. I want it. I like foldables. The Oppo Find N5 is amazing. Just so dislike the operating system of Android. Google Pixel is bearable, as is Samsung UI7, but the specs on their foldables are just so bad that it's not worth it.

I would love both a foldable and a flip please

 

[Zest28]

Due to tariff increase it will probably only cost 8000,- in Europe.

DM me by then, and I will sell you these devices as "used" by simply using it for a day and then sending it to you. It's effectively still brand new.

Still cheaper than whatever tarrifs the EU has put on you.

That is unless the EU puts tarrifs on used good too.

 

[subjonas]

Wow. With a number of rumors in (partial) agreement, it sounds like a folding screen MacBook is a strong possibility in the near-future. And if it’s a folding screen then there’s a strong possibility it would have Pencil support. As someone who has been praying for a MacBook with pen support for well over a decade, this is extremely exciting.

 

[picpicmac]

So what's the chance that it won't be called an iPhone...
And won't be called an iPad....

But it will be called... an iFold.

??

 

[JapanApple]

Well, people want it they buy it. But I don't want it or need it.

 

[syklee26]

When is Apple going to fold Eddie Cue and Tim Cook's career?

 

[MichaelAdam]

Great but at what cost ? I think I will upgrade to a 16 pro refurb until roiced goes up the roof …

 

[McNoise]

So what's the chance that it won't be called an iPhone...
And won't be called an iPad....

But it will be called... an iFold.

??

For German native speakers, that "I fold" sounds a bit like egg rots ("Ei fault"). 😂

 

[HiFifreak]

Along with an iPhone "Fold," Apple is believed to be working on a larger foldable device that's somewhere around 19 inches, and one analyst suggests it could arrive as soon as late next year alongside Apple's rumored foldable iPhone.

In a new research note covering likely post-tariff scenarios for Apple, investment firm GF Securities' lead analyst Jeff Pu says that both 18.8-inch and 7.8-inch foldable devices have seen development progress and are forecast to enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Pu said as much last month, when he claimed that Apple's first two foldable devices had recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn. Depending on exactly when mass production begins in the second half of 2026, the devices could launch either later next year, or at some point in 2027.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple is working on a foldable ‌iPad‌ with a 20-inch display that will come out in 2028, while analyst Ross Young has said that he expects a foldable tablet-like device in 2026 or 2027, so it's safe to say there's uncertainty about a launch date. There also appear to be conflicting reports about what kind of device the larger foldable will be.

Pu believes the foldable device that Apple is working on will be a MacBook-iPad hybrid with a touch-based screen and support for macOS. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also referred to Apple's larger foldable device as a MacBook, while Ross Young has also written about Apple's work on a notebook with an 18.8-inch display. The Wall Street Journal said in December that Apple is working on a 19-inch MacBook with a foldable screen.

However, Gurman has referred to Apple's large-screened foldable device as an ‌iPad‌, as has research firm Omdia. Whether the large-screened foldable is ultimately an ‌iPad‌ or a Mac will come down to the operating system that Apple is planning to use. If the device runs macOS, it'll be in the Mac family, and if it runs iPadOS, it'll be in the ‌iPad‌ family. Gurman has claimed that some of the design updates that Apple is making in iOS 19 and macOS 16 to unify the operating systems will pave the way for foldable devices and touchscreen Macs, so a hybrid is also a possibility.

• Foldable iPhone Expected Next Year: All the Rumored Features So Far

All in all, the details of Apple's larger foldable device remain murky. That's in contrast to rumors about Apple's smaller book-style foldable iPhone, which have recently been converging on a 2026 release.

Article Link: Apple's 18.8-Inch Foldable Device to Enter Mass Production in Late 2026

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that..............HOW many times can this "master predictor" change his mind or predictions before people are going to see who and what he is?

 

[DrJR]

Hopefully only the innovative devices fold and not the company.

“Can’t innovate my ass!” - f’kn Phil

 

[Le0M]

if this big foldable device has a touchscreen, then it will either have iPadOS or a new OS designed to be close to or as professional as macOS, but it won’t be the macOS we know today.
There’s no way around that, because today’s macOS is not suitable for touch screens.

 

[Kylo83]

Apple are bored so they are jumping on the folding trend, not gonna sell well

 

[nfl46]

Which means that the actual release date will be pushed back to 2029, barring any further development challenges or strategic shifts in the company's timeline.

Pretty much. lol. We won’t have it until 2029 at the earliest.

 

[newyorksole]

ok ok finally the real next generation Apple devices. can’t wait to see them.

I haven’t seen or used any of the foldable devices from current competition so far.

 

[KnowsHowItWorks]

A) generalised predictions for 2 years.
B) by the “Pu analyst”

I am not sure if this is a trolling or our world is beyond that already.

 

[Aeronauts]

I would like a folding iPhone but a folding iPad makes no sense to me.

 

[j26]

Full Mac OS with touchscreen, small footprint for portability.

Oh yes!

 

[Aeronauts]

I would prefer a 15” iPad Pro.

 

[Digital Dude]

I don’t believe this rumor for one second. 🙄

 

[Xade]

I would like a folding iPhone but a folding iPad makes no sense to me.

Both make plenty of sense to me. Depends on your use case.

 

[flybass]

I can envision Apple doing a good job on software for foldables. It seems to be in their wheelhouse as there is some sort of elegance in a magazine app evoking the feel of flipping through a physical version - functionality is simple, but a tasteful Ui makes all the difference. A similar case can be made for taking notes say in a class setting.

None of it is particularly complicated… should be easy to deliver vs the AI agenda.

 

[OGdrknight]

The iFold Pro is the future. It takes a lot of courage to create something as innovative as this. We are also introducing a new AppleCare plan for the iFold, which is just $100 more per year!