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The MacRumors Show: Apple's Foldable iPhone and Smart Home Plans

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the rumored launch of Apple's first foldable in 2026 and the company's plans to move aggressively into the smart home market.


Earlier this week, display analyst Ross Young reported that Apple is expected to "enter the foldable market" in the second half of 2026. Apple's "dominant position in flagship smartphones" could potentially lead to significant growth for the foldable market in 2026, ultimately leading to a record year for foldables. There have long been rumors suggesting that Apple is developing a foldable iPhone, and several analysts believe that Apple will finally debut a foldable iPhone around September of 2026.

The first foldable iPhone could be between 7.9 and 8.3 inches in size, and it may have a "clamshell" design like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip. A clamshell iPhone would fold in half vertically rather than horizontally, allowing for a full-size iPhone when unfolded, and a smaller, pocketable device when folded.

Meanwhile, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple's long-rumored HomePod with a display has been delayed again and is now expected to launch after WWDC 2025, likely in the third quarter of the year. The new smart speaker is expected to feature Apple's A18 processor and a 6-7 inch display, with support for Apple Intelligence, says the analyst. According to Kuo, the delay is primarily attributed to software development challenges, rather than hardware issues.

There have been a multitude of rumors about a ‌HomePod with a display since 2021, and Apple actually seems to have several products in the works. Kuo's latest report harks back to previous predictions from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who suggested Apple was developing several HomePod variants with screens, including one with an iPad-like display and another featuring a screen mounted on a robotic arm. Gurman had indicated these devices were unlikely to launch before 2025.

The new HomePod will reportedly emphasize smart home functionality more than current models, suggesting a strategic repositioning of the product line. The idea that Apple is targeting the smart home market follows a recent report by Gurman about Apple developing an all-in-one home management hub with a square-shaped display, thick bezels, and a hemispherical base similar to the iMac G4.

We also discuss smart home ecosystems more broadly and the Sonos Ace over-ear headphones as rivals to the AirPods Max. The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:



You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the recently leaked design of the iPhone 17 "Air" and iPhone 17 Pro.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Chri... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Apple's Foldable iPhone and Smart Home Plans
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/06/the-macrumors-show-foldable-and-home-plans/
the samsung z phones are so bulky and chunky to hold even though they are flip. Apple should do a like a ipod touch or iphone 3g style round case that clamshells closed.
 
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I wait for Tim to resign before anything really fun will happen to the Apple 'stuff'.

Tim has done a great job financially and for stockholders. I hope for more innovation for the customers from next CEO.

Make that shift soon Apple 🔥
 
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A foldable iPhone Air could be alright because folded it could be the thickness of a regular iPhone. Folding phones that are thick when folded, suck.
 
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I understand R and D takes years but Apple have unlimited cash and resources to do anything the home automation is such a big market to go for IF done right, my place everywhere is automated but it drives my mad with a dozen apps just want in A SINGLE app that just works the HomeKit app is rubbish all I get is the same as DAN, with nearly 200 items with the same issue No Response, comeon Apple get it done quicker and better
 
Vulkan said:
I think foldable iPhones will be a flop, because Apple doesn’t believe in bending to the competition.
Click to expand...
Maybe it will bend over backwards for certain countries.

On second thought, flip phones and flop phones can’t be that different anyway.
 
Smart homes have a huge room for improvement. There isnt a good enough light smart home platform service out there, Philips Hue is the closest, but ambience light CRI and R9 are so bad is a shame.

Other systems and bulba have lot of problems, there is a compatibility problem, apps arent convenient for visits and kids and wall switchers doesnt work well.

The world is claiming for someone who bring this:
-natural light (temperature mimic sun light and changes with the day cycle)
-natural CRI and R9 (over 95 minimun, so colors matches sun light no matter the temperature)
-intuitive and universal control (wall switchers over anything, app and voice comands only as extra support)
 
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cocoua said:
Smart homes have a huge room for improvement. There isnt a good enough light smart home platform service out there, Philips Hue is the closest, but ambience light CRI and R9 are so bad is a shame.
Click to expand...
Is this what gives the effect of these LED lights being blindingly bright, but you still can't actually see anything in the room?
 
Thinking back to my classic red LG EnV2, the cool thing was that the phone was teeny, but I could open it up to do things. Could we not get a really thin iPad that folds down to normal iPhone size? I'm still trying to figure out who needs/wants a foldable phone that just saves pocket space, when you could have a tablet that also has telephony.
 

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I've been wanting the Home App on Apple TV for the longest time. I think that would help with the smart home landscape. I've never understood why you could incorporate the speakers with the Apple TV, but you couldn't update the speakers the same way. You could also control other things through the TV. You want innovation, just make the Apple TV kind of the central hub to a smart home. TV could be considered an accessory to the home, same with blinds, lights, switches, stuff like that. This is why I would love a new Apple TV, not to mention Apple Intelligence would be helpful with the TV I would imagine.
 
MacRumors said:


On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the rumored launch of Apple's first foldable in 2026 and the company's plans to move aggressively into the smart home market.


Earlier this week, display analyst Ross Young reported that Apple is expected to "enter the foldable market" in the second half of 2026. Apple's "dominant position in flagship smartphones" could potentially lead to significant growth for the foldable market in 2026, ultimately leading to a record year for foldables. There have long been rumors suggesting that Apple is developing a foldable iPhone, and several analysts believe that Apple will finally debut a foldable iPhone around September of 2026.

The first foldable iPhone could be between 7.9 and 8.3 inches in size, and it may have a "clamshell" design like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip. A clamshell iPhone would fold in half vertically rather than horizontally, allowing for a full-size iPhone when unfolded, and a smaller, pocketable device when folded.

Meanwhile, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple's long-rumored HomePod with a display has been delayed again and is now expected to launch after WWDC 2025, likely in the third quarter of the year. The new smart speaker is expected to feature Apple's A18 processor and a 6-7 inch display, with support for Apple Intelligence, says the analyst. According to Kuo, the delay is primarily attributed to software development challenges, rather than hardware issues.

There have been a multitude of rumors about a ‌HomePod with a display since 2021, and Apple actually seems to have several products in the works. Kuo's latest report harks back to previous predictions from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who suggested Apple was developing several HomePod variants with screens, including one with an iPad-like display and another featuring a screen mounted on a robotic arm. Gurman had indicated these devices were unlikely to launch before 2025.

The new HomePod will reportedly emphasize smart home functionality more than current models, suggesting a strategic repositioning of the product line. The idea that Apple is targeting the smart home market follows a recent report by Gurman about Apple developing an all-in-one home management hub with a square-shaped display, thick bezels, and a hemispherical base similar to the iMac G4.

We also discuss smart home ecosystems more broadly and the Sonos Ace over-ear headphones as rivals to the AirPods Max. The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:



You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the recently leaked design of the iPhone 17 "Air" and iPhone 17 Pro.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Chri... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Apple's Foldable iPhone and Smart Home Plans
Click to expand...
They are going to put “Eyesight” on the outside of the flip phone. 😂
 
deesedani said:
I understand R and D takes years but Apple have unlimited cash and resources to do anything the home automation is such a big market to go for IF done right, my place everywhere is automated but it drives my mad with a dozen apps just want in A SINGLE app that just works the HomeKit app is rubbish all I get is the same as DAN, with nearly 200 items with the same issue No Response, comeon Apple get it done quicker and better
Click to expand...
You really impressed me. 200 items? It's time to give us more details!
 
HJM.NL said:
I think Apple enthousiasts who are bashing the foldables now will hail the foldable iPhone 😇
Click to expand...
My problems are that a) I don't see a need, for myself and b) all the folding phones I've seen so far have that horrible crease in the middle of the screen.

I've used several Galaxy models and Google Pixel models and the first thing I see, when flipping the screen open, is the crease and I just can't unsee it. Apple need to come up with something really different to the competition, when it comes to the folding screen technology.

And, for me personally, my phone spends 70% of its time sitting on my desk at work or on a table at home and when I am out and about it fits easily into my pocket and when I'm shopping, I am constantly pulling it out to look at the shopping list, so I'd wouldn't be folding it when out and about either. So I just don't, currently, see any need to pay extra for a folding phone for my usecase.

I'm not against a folding phone, and as long as they do it like Samsung does, that you get your normal high-end models and then there is the fold as well, I have no problems with it. I just hope the solve the current screen problems that Samsung and Google don't seem to have solved so far.
 
HJM.NL said:
I think Apple enthousiasts who are bashing the foldables now will hail the foldable iPhone 😇
Click to expand...
Of course they will.

You only have to go back a few years to how almost everyone was bashing Samsung for "Stupidly GIANT Phones" and how all phones should be able to be used in one hand.
Even Apple showed off how a small size was the correct size.

Until Apple made larger and larger phones which it has been proven most wanted.

I just wish we could stop this and not hate on a product simply because Apple does not make it, and then suddenly love it when Apple does make it.

I've seen this cycle repeat and repeat for so many years on so many products.
I don't suppose this mentality is ever going to change :(

I love all products from all companies.
 
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im thinking the whole homepod with display is being stalled, because Apple intelligence is not where it was supposed to be.

Lets say they made that homepod, and perhaps started 3-4 years ago on the project. - then 2 years ago the see Chat GPT - If i was the one calling the shots there was no way i would put that thing out there before i know how it would integrate with Chat GPT level of understanding. (unless ofc. i could sell first the crappy version and then 2 years later get people to buy the "real" version)

Right Now Apple Intelligence is not available outside US (without you tinkering) -
and while the US is the biggest single market, EU is not fare behind, and i think its mainly fare behind because people like me wont buy 1/2 a product and pay full price.

Q4 - 2024
US = 44% of revenue
EU =32 % of Revenue
(Source)
 
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