The folding MacBook has been postponed again! Why are Apple products so difficult to fold?

Apple’s foldable device has been delayed again.

In the latest tweet, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that Apple’s first foldable MacBook has been postponed from its original release in 2026 to the end of 2027 or 2028. This is consistent with Related to some recent internal changes. Ming-Chi Kuo pointed out that this foldable MacBook has changed from design to material selection, which may be the main reason for the delay.

(Source: X)

Starting from flexible OLED panel Since entering the consumer market, we have seen the launch of many foldable electronic products, such as folding screen mobile phones, folding screen laptops, etc. Among them, folding screen mobile phones have become one of the fastest growing categories in the smartphone market.

Since 2021, Apple has been rumored to be exploring the feasibility of foldable devices, such as the foldable screen iPhone, which has appeared in multiple leaks from industry insiders. It is understood that all of Apple’s foldable product projects are currently being delayed. This makes people wonder, what is causing Apple’s “innovative” projects to be delayed again and again?

Why do Apple’s foldable screen products keep having delays?

Folding screen mobile phones were first launched by Royole in 2018. Later, Samsung and Huawei released products for the consumer market, Galaxy Z Fold and Mate X. The original folding screen mobile phone had problems such as being thick, not durable, and having poor software adaptation. It did not make a huge splash in the early days of its release.

However, with the entry of a large number of manufacturers, OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, Honor and other manufacturers have provided their own solutions, and their products have become more mature. Consumers acceptance has also improved. A recent report released by market research organization Techinsights pointed out that in the first quarter of 2024, global sales of foldable screen mobile phones achieved a year-on-year growth of 257%, marking six consecutive quarters of positive growth.

Apple was exposed to explore the feasibility of launching foldable devices around 2021, but ultimately focused on iPad and Mac, two product lines with greater productivity requirements superior. The foldable MacBook was confirmed as a project in 2023, and the initial release time was scheduled for the fall of 2026, but the latest news points out that the release time has been postponed again.

(Source: Appleinsider)

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, The size of the folding MacBook has changed, improving from the original 20.25 inches to 18.8 inches. When folded, it will continue to remain between 13-14 inches, similar to the current MacBook. Xiaolei believes that the reason why Apple has reduced the size of the display panel is related to the fact that the current display technology cannot meet the requirements. At the same time, taking into account many factors such as portability and adaptability, the foldable MacBook will not be ultra-large in the end. 20 inches.

In addition, the foldable iPad that was rumored earlier is no longer on the supply chain list. Either Apple has completely canceled the project, or there is news that it is foldable. MacBook mistakes it for iPad.

In any case, the market for foldable screen devices has matured, but Apple, one of the world’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers, has yet to launch one As with any related equipment, this is actually quite puzzling. However, Apple’s “conservatism” is also traceable. For example, Apple introduced a full-screen design in the iPhone It was not the first time it was launched on the market.

(Source: Wistia)

It can be seen that Apple may be more We are willing to launch folding screen products when the technology is mature, the supply chain is stable and costs are controllable to ensure that its products can meet consumers' consistently high expectations for the brand after they are launched. Ming-Chi Kuo also said that the foldable MacBook will not be too cheap in terms of pricing and may be comparable to the price of Vision Pro. After experiencing the "severe beating" of the Vision Pro when it was launched, Apple may need to formulate a more complete price. strategy so that we don’t make the same mistakes again.

Is it really necessary to make your MacBook foldable?

In the current market, foldable laptops are gradually entering consumers’ horizons, such as Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold and Asus’ ZenBook Fold. These products take advantage of the unique design of folding screens to provide users with greater screen space and portability, trying to find a balance between tablets and traditional laptops.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold is equipped with a 13.3-inch OLED folding screen that can be expanded to 17.3 inches, providing users with a hybrid between a tablet and a notebook experience. Asus' ZenBook 17 Fold OLED has a 17.3-inch foldable display that is almost the size of a desktop monitor when unfolded. The selling prices of these products are not low, usually above US$2,500, positioning them in the high-end market.

(Source: ASUS)

In contrast, MacBook, as a representative of traditional laptops, still follows a single The design concept of screen and fixed keyboard has diverse functions but fixed form.

It’s not surprising that Apple prioritizes the foldable shape of the MacBook product line. First of all, the significance of the folding design is that it breaks the form limitations of traditional laptops and integrates the functions of laptops and tablets. By folding the screen, users can freely switch between laptop mode, tablet mode, and even hybrid mode to adapt to different usage scenarios.

Considering that macOS 15 already supports the use of iPhone on MacBook through screen mapping, this kind of multi-device and multi-modal interoperability operation logic will definitely become a trend. Of course, as we mentioned earlier, the foldable design also brings some issues, such as screen creases, hinge durability, and software adaptation.

(Source: Apple)

Market research agency IDC Data shows that global shipments of foldable screen notebooks will reach 500,000 units in 2023. Although it is still insignificant compared to traditional notebooks, the year-on-year growth rate is close to 200%, showing the potential of this market. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, the foldable screen notebook market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 30% in the next five years.

It can be foreseen that the market prospect of foldable screen laptops is huge, not only due to the "pseudo demand" created by technological progress, but also due to the changing usage scenarios of consumers. More than ever, people are more concerned about whether the device can cope with more usage needs. What is more important is that it should take into account performance while maintaining a certain degree of portability. This is why the current Arm-based notebook market is also booming.

(Source: 9to5Mac)

However, for now In other words, foldable design has not attracted more attention from consumers in the laptop market. On the one hand, most of these products are aimed at professional fields, such as ZenBook Fold (Lingyao X Fold). Its multi-modal solution is more suitable for users with Business people who need reading, creation and writing; on the other hand, the price. Whether it is ASUS or Lenovo, their foldable laptops are much higher than ordinary thin and light laptops.

The foldable MacBook also needs to take these practical factors into consideration. If it cannot radiate to a large number of consumer groups, it may only become the second Vision Pro, even with its powerful hardware configuration, but not many consumers are willing to pay for it.

Foldable MacBook, may become the next VisionPro

The delayed launch of foldable MacBook is already What is certain is that Apple may need to consider market acceptance before its official launch.

First, the high cost of folding MacBook may become the main factor hindering its popularity. Currently, foldable notebooks on the market usually sell for between US$2,500 and US$3,500, which is much higher than the average price of ordinary notebooks. If Apple launches a folding MacBook, the price may rise further, which will make the product positioning more specialized and may be unaffordable for ordinary consumers.

Secondly, the complexity of folding screens may also increase learning costs and maintenance costs. For those users who are used to traditional MacBook operations, it may take some time to adapt to the new mode of the folding screen. The repair and maintenance costs of folding screen devices may also be higher, which may make the threshold for folding MacBooks higher.

Overall, the launch of the foldable MacBook may meet the needs of the high-end market, but it also means that Apple needs to find a balance between price and user experience to ensure This product can be widely welcomed by consumers, instead of becoming just a "luxury product" for technology enthusiasts like the Vision Pro.

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