Apple is quite late to the foldable market, as it has not introduced a product that can bend in half. However, the company is internally working on a large device with an 18.8-inch foldable screen, and it appears that it will be a Mac. It is now being reported that Apple’s large foldable device will run macOS instead of iPadOS.
Apple’s first large foldable device will run macOS instead of iPadOS, making it part of the Mac lineup
It was previously unknown if Apple’s larger foldable device would run macOS or iPadOS, which gave us no indication of what category the device would fall under. According to Jeff Pu from GF Securities (via MacRumors), Apple’s larger 18.8-inch foldable device will run macOS instead of iPadOS. The analyst also claims that the device will be the first of two foldable devices set to enter mass production in the second half of next year.
In his latest research notes, Pu also claims that the two devices include a foldable iPhone with an internal display size of 7.8 inches. The larger device of the two, possibly a Mac, will feature an 18.8-inch foldable display running macOS rather than iPadOS. We have to note that these are early speculations, and the final product could be different and more in line with Apple’s plans.
Jeff Pu’s claims are quite bold, as this is the first time we are hearing details about the operating system of the foldable device. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg did not share details on the operating system of Apple’s large foldable device, but he did claim that the upcoming iOS 19 and macOS 16 updates will define and pave the way for new hardware designs, including “foldable devices and touchscreen Macs.”
Users have been demanding touchscreen capabilities on a Mac for years, and even though Apple is reluctant to offer the functionality on a Mac, it could see fit to introduce an entire product line to cater to the demand. As for the launch, mass production of foldable devices means that the products are nearing completion and could be released a few months after. If the mass production timeframe is accurate, Apple’s foldable Mac running macOS could be released by the end of next year at the earliest or early in 2027.
We have to note that there are no concrete details available on the launch of a large foldable device for next year, and 2027 appears to be a more plausible year for Apple. However, the company could launch a foldable iPhone sooner than the Mac, and it is reported to boost Apple’s iPhone sales. When do you think Apple will release its large 18.8-inch foldable Mac? Let us know your insights in the comments.
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