Apple has reportedly delayed the launch of the highly anticipated device due to “technical issues.”
The foldable MacBook, which has been rumored since 2019, was scheduled to be released next year but has now been delayed until early 2026, or at the latest 2028.
The computer is expected to be able to be used as a laptop with an on-screen keyboard when folded, and as a monitor with an external keyboard when unfolded.
Apple is facing issues with the display and mechanical parts of the 18.8-inch screen size, which uses a single touchscreen on both the top and bottom of the device.
Apple is reportedly delaying the release of the device, which was originally scheduled for 2025.
The foldable MacBook is expected to have touchscreens on both the top and bottom of the screen. Pictured: Rendering of what the foldable MacBook might look like
Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst known for leaking information about Apple products, said in a post on X that “some market participants had previously expected Apple to launch a foldable iPad in 2025, but current supply chain research does not support a foldable iPad.”
“Maybe that’s why some people are calling this foldable MacBook a foldable iPad.”
Kuo reported that Apple has cancelled a 20.25-inch display design it was reportedly considering, and that “the assembly mass production schedule has been postponed from 1H26 (early 2026) to late 2027 or 2028.”
Some users have expressed concerns about the on-screen keyboard, saying the lack of tactile keys can make typing painful and difficult, but Apple may be working on a way to make this easier.
Apple’s patent describes three ways to make typing on an on-screen keyboard easier, calling for “a flexible screen that deforms when virtual keys are pressed” and using haptic feedback that “simulates the click of an actual key.”
The company added that “it can also use static electricity to simulate the feel of key edges, making it feel more like a real keyboard when you rest your fingers ready to type.”
The foldable MacBook doesn’t have a physical keyboard, but it can be paired with a keyboard and set up as a monitor. Pictured: A rendering of what the foldable MacBook might look like
The foldable MacBook could be released as early as 2027, or as late as 2028. Pictured: A rendering of what the foldable MacBook might look like
Apple has reportedly been working on a foldable laptop for years but has not announced an official production date, even as competitors such as LG and Samsung have unveiled their own versions.
The same technical issues that are delaying the launch of the MacBook could also be behind the delay in the release of the foldable iPhone.
Apple insiders reported that the device was expected to be released within two years, but that its launch has now been put on hold due to “screen wrinkles.”
According to 9to5Mac, the company is “still evaluating component specifications and performance while meeting stringent requirements for crease and reliability,” making it unlikely the device will be released before 2027.
