According to rumors, Apple has been working on a foldable device for years. Despite competitors in the smartphone market, most notably Samsung and Google operating in the foldable phone world, iPhone makers appear to be resisting peer pressure and offering modest improvements to their iPhone models. However, market analysts now say that this could soon change as Apple plans to launch two foldable devices in 2026, the first of which will be an iPad and MacBook hybrid.
Apple foldable devices
According to an investor note from analyst Jeff Poe of Haitong International Securities Group (via 9to5Mac), Apple plans to launch two devices in 2026 to enter the foldable device market. The first device is assumed to be of hybrid type. It combines two of Apple’s most popular devices, the iPad and MacBook, and reveals an 18.8-inch display.
The other device is said to be a foldable iPhone. The claim confirms previous reports that the Cupertino company is developing a foldable iPhone that could launch with the iPhone 18 series in 2026. The rumored device may feature a foldable design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Pu’s research report also suggests that an iPad/Macbook hybrid will be the first foldable device Apple will launch in the second quarter of 2026. It was already reported that it would go into mass production next year, but analysts believe that may no longer be the case.
According to reports, this initial announcement will be followed by the unveiling of a foldable iPhone model, which was already speculated to launch alongside the iPhone 18 series in the second half of the aforementioned year. It was previously reported that the device will come with a 7.9-inch or 8.3-inch display, and Samsung is said to be in touch as the main display supplier.
Notably, it was reported in February that Apple was developing “at least” two iPhone prototypes with a foldable design. At the time, it was speculated that Apple engineers intended to build an iPhone that would be “as thin as current iPhone models,” but it encountered limitations as the battery and display components took up a lot of space.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
