Apple’s MacBook-iPad hybrid 18.8-inch foldable device may miss 2026 mass production window

Apple

Apple’s long-rumoured 18.8-inch foldable device, possibly a MacBook-iPad hybrid, may not enter mass production in 2026 as initially expected. While the foldable iPhone, reportedly part of the iPhone 18 lineup, is still on track for a late 2026 launch, the larger model appears to be slipping further down the roadmap.

According to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities, progress on the foldable iPhone remains “intact” with signs pointing to a second-half 2026 release. However, in his latest research note, Pu says the 18.8-inch foldable is “likely to be postponed,” without citing a specific reason for the delay. Mass production for this device was earlier targeted for Q4 2026, suggesting a revised timeline closer to 2027.

What the rumours say so far

Speculation remains divided over what exactly this larger device will be. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes Apple is developing a 20-inch foldable iPad slated for 2028, while analyst Ross Young has predicted a 2026 or 2027 launch for a foldable tablet-like product. Pu, however, describes the device as a MacBook-iPad hybrid running macOS with a fully touch-based display, a sentiment echoed by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and The Wall Street Journal, which reported in December that Apple was testing a 19-inch foldable MacBook.

Meanwhile, others like Gurman and research firm Omdia continue to refer to the device as a foldable iPad, raising questions about how Apple will position the product. The answer likely depends on the operating system it ships with macOS would place it in the Mac lineup, while iPadOS would make it an iPad. Gurman has also noted that features in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe hint at growing convergence between platforms, potentially setting the stage for a hybrid category of touchscreen Macs or foldables.

While the identity and timeline of the large-screen foldable remain uncertain, industry chatter around the foldable iPhone is growing more aligned with most sources pointing to a late 2026 debut.