On May 24th, it was reported that Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, has conducted the latest investigation on Apple's first foldable screen MacBook.
Kuo stated that the foldable screen MacBook is expected to be released in 2026, a year earlier than his previous prediction of 2027.
In terms of screen size, Apple is considering using an 18.8-inch panel to replace the previously rumored 20.3-inch panel.
When folded, the 20.3-inch panel would be similar in size to the current 14-15-inch MacBook, while the 18.8-inch panel would be closer to the 13-14-inch version.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple aims to minimize screen creases as much as possible, which places very high demands on the design specifications of the panel and hinge.
As a result, the costs of the panel and hinge are also very high, with initial estimates putting them at around $600-650 and $200-250 respectively.
He noted that if the yield rate significantly improves during mass production, costs could potentially be reduced further.
Kuo bluntly stated that based on the costs of the panel and hinge, a foldable screen MacBook is unlikely to be cheap.
If Apple cannot improve the yield rate and reduce costs before mass production, the cost of a foldable screen MacBook could be close to that of the current Vision Pro ($3499 starting price).
However, due to the clearer product positioning of the foldable screen MacBook compared to the Vision Pro, shipment volumes are expected to be significantly higher. Kuo predicts that shipments could exceed 1 million units by 2026.
