Apple's Foldable Screen MacBook Exclusive Supply, Specs, and More

By:Emma Published 2024-05-23T22:58:30Z

TapTechNews May 24th news, TapTechNews yesterday quoted Ming-Chi Kuo's revelation that Apple's first foldable screen product panel is exclusively supplied by LG Display, aiming to start mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025, with an estimated size of 20.2 inches or 18.8 inches, and the product will be launched in 2026.

The CEO of the screen supply chain consulting company DSCC, Ross Young, also followed up with the revelation within less than 2 hours, indicating that the device will indeed be equipped with a screen about 18.8 inches.

Apple's Foldable Screen MacBook Exclusive Supply, Specs, and More_0

Young published an article on the social media platform X that is only readable by his paying users, stating that for cost reasons, he expects the device to be equipped with a 18.76-inch display screen instead of a 20.25-inch display screen.

Apple's Foldable Screen MacBook Exclusive Supply, Specs, and More_1

Ming-Chi Kuo said that at the folding position, the size of the 18.8-inch MacBook will be similar to that of a traditional 13-inch or 14-inch MacBook. It is expected that the MacBook with a foldable screen will adopt a full-screen design and a virtual keyboard, but specific design details have not been heard yet.

Here are some new information given by Ming-Chi Kuo:

The size of the foldable screen may still have multiple options. The previously rumored 20.3-inch display screen may be replaced by an 18.8-inch panel. The former will be similar to the current 14-15-inch MacBook after folding, while the latter is closer to the 13-14-inch model.

The device is expected to be released in 2026, one year earlier than previously reported.

The device is expected to be equipped with the M5 series chip, which is in line with the expected timeline that the M4 will be popularized to the entire Mac product line by the end of 2025.

Apple's goal is to minimize the screen crease as much as possible, which requires very high design requirements for both the panel and the hinge. Therefore, the cost of the panel and the hinge is very high. Currently, the initial estimated cost of the panel and the hinge is about $600-$650 and $200-$250 respectively. When mass production, if the yield is significantly improved, the cost is expected to be further reduced.