Apple could launch 20.3-inch foldable device next year and iPhone fold in 2026

Apple could launch a 20.3-inch foldable next year, this might be the first foldable device from the iPhone maker as competitor Samsung and Chinese rivals continue to advance in this segment.

9to5mac reports that Apple is steady on its plans to unveil a new 20.3-inch foldable in 2025. This new large foldable will be followed by a small-size device, potentially an iPhone fold in 2026.

The company is working through the mass production process and enter this phase by the end of 2025. However, there’s no clarification on the launch date.

Notebook size?

Ming-Chi Kuo, a Prominent Apple supply chain analyst revealed similar input on a Foldable with such a huge screen size. However, he weighs mass production for 2027 instead of 2025.

The interesting part of this device is its design, which could serve as a hybrid. Specifically, it could work as a notebook or a tablet but its hinge mechanism must be robust given its sheer size.

Currently, there are no foldable devices in the market with more than 10 inches of screen size. Therefore, the significant size must be contained with advanced size.

Market Forecast:

Market tracker IDC forecasts that the worldwide foldable phone shipment will reach 25 million in 2024 an increase of 37.6% compared to 18.1 million units shipped last year. On the other hand, this shipment number could expand to 45.7 million units per year by 2028 resulting in a CAGR of 20.3% for 2023-2028.

Apple doesn’t want to step away from this future revenue growth opportunity. However, this device segment is currently going through a development phase.

The hinge and display quality are the two main challenges for the manufacturer and need to work tendon to provide a seamless foldable experience. Quality is one of the top reasons why the company is delaying its plans to launch a foldable phone. This might change with the release of a new foldable when it launches.