Apple's rumored MacBook of the future could arrive in 2026 — and cost a lot

Jordan Hart
·2 min read

  • Apple could be releasing an all-screen foldable MacBook in 2026.

  • Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said production costs could rival the $3,500 Vision Pro headset.

  • The rumored MacBook would come with an as-yet-announced M5 series processor.

Apple could be gearing up to release an all-screen, foldable MacBook for 2026, and it may cost quite a bit.

That's according to Ming-Chi Kuo, a much-followed analyst who has previously been a go-to for Apple product predictions, having often done so accurately.

In a Thursday blog post, citing a survey, the supply-chain analyst at TF International Securities said that the product, Apple's first foldable-screen device, could measure 20.25 inches, though "Apple is also considering using an 18.8" panel instead."

The "target mass production schedule for the panel and assembly" is Q4 2025 and H1 2026, respectively, he wrote. That compares to a previous estimate of 2027.

Still, the cost for consumers could reach Vision Pro pricing levels, Kuo wrote. The Vision Pro has a retail price tag of $3,499.

That's because the cost of making a hinge and display that "make the panel as crease-free as possible" looks hefty. It requires "high design specifications," and current preliminary estimates put the panel costs at around $600—$650 and hinge costs at $200—$250 each, he said.

However, "if production yields improve significantly by the time of mass production, these costs could decrease." Plus, "due to the more defined product positioning of the foldable MacBook, the shipments are expected to be significantly higher than those of the Vision Pro. Shipments are estimated to exceed 1 million units in 2026," Kuo estimated. That's a boon for Apple after the mixed success of the headset launched earlier this year.

The MacBook could also come with a yet-to-be-announced M5 chip. When Apple introduced the new iPad Pro on May 7, the tech giant introduced the M4, calling it an "outrageously powerful chip for AI."

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