Apple’s future foldable MacBook could cost more than 3,000 euros. A price that Apple would justify by the presence of a crease-free screen and the integration of an M5 processor.
For several years now, rumors have raised the possibility that Apple could one day enter the folding smartphone market. However, according to the latest news, the Cupertino company has put the development of its foldable iPhone on hold, apparently failing to develop a screen worthy of the name. However, the brand with the bitten apple has not yet finished with this idea, since it would now consider transposing it to its laptop computers.
The foldable MacBook would arrive sooner than expected
Last March, Ming-Chi Kuo confirmed to us the development of a MacBook equipped with a foldable screen, capable of folding on itself in order to take up as little space as possible. But, in the space of a few weeks, Apple’s plans already seem to have evolved regarding its foldable MacBook project, according to recent updates shared by the analyst.
First of all, the 20.3-inch panel initially mentioned by Ming-Chi Kuo could finally be joined by a second 18.8-inch model. The first format would close on itself to adopt the size of a current 14-15 inch MacBook, while the second would rather correspond to a 13-14 inch model, as reported to us by 9to5Mac.
Concerning the expected SoC, and based on the schedule planned by Apple with its M4 processor (this will normally be extended to the entire Mac range by the end of 2025), it is the M5 chip which should equip the foldable MacBook, whose launch is no longer expected for the year 2027. According to Kuo, the foldable MacBook would now be planned for 2026, a year earlier than previously announced.
The promise of a crease-free screen, but not without paying a price
With its foldable MacBook, the company led by Tim Cook would like the screen to be crease-free. Therefore, this implies “ high design specifications for panel and hinge ”, and therefore higher manufacturing costs. For example, current estimates place the cost of the panel between $600 and $650. The hinge, for its part, would cost Apple no less than 200 dollars.
This high cost of components will inevitably be reflected in the final price of the product. According to Kuo, “ Considering the high cost of the screen and hinge, the foldable MacBook is expected to be expensive. Unless Apple can significantly improve yields and reduce costs before mass production, the cost price of the foldable MacBook could approach that of the current Vision Pro. »
As a reminder, the Apple Vision Pro is currently sold from $3,499. Therefore, it is a safe bet that the foldable MacBook far exceeds the price of 3,000 euros on the Old Continent. Obviously, let’s keep in mind that 2026 is still a long way off, so a lot of changes can happen between now and then.
1439€
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- More power, “improved” SSD and ray-tracing supported
- Heating better controlled than before
- Support for two external displays now
Without showing it much, the MacBook Air 15 is making progress. The installation on board of the new M3 chip allows both a substantial performance gain, but also and above all reduced heating compared to last year’s model.
Apple has also improved the transfer speeds of its SSD on the base configuration, while now allowing us to support two external displays instead of just one previously. Small steps, certainly, but which go in the right direction and which we would be wrong not to appreciate, even if we would have liked to find them, last year, directly on the initial model.
Overall, the MacBook Air 15 remains one of the best 15-inch laptops to date. It combines excellent display quality, solid performance, and still impressive battery life… and all in total silence.
We regret, however, that Apple did not take advantage of this new version to increase the amount of RAM and storage offered by the most “affordable” configuration of the product. At 1,600 euros starting price, we have the right to want more.
Without showing it much, the MacBook Air 15 is making progress. The installation on board of the new M3 chip allows both a substantial performance gain, but also and above all reduced heating compared to last year’s model.
Apple has also improved the transfer speeds of its SSD on the base configuration, while now allowing us to support two external displays instead of just one previously. Small steps, certainly, but which go in the right direction and which we would be wrong not to appreciate, even if we would have liked to find them, last year, directly on the initial model.
Overall, the MacBook Air 15 remains one of the best 15-inch laptops to date. It combines excellent display quality, solid performance, and still impressive battery life… and all in complete silence.
We regret, however, that Apple did not take advantage of this new version to increase the amount of RAM and storage offered by the most “affordable” configuration of the product. At 1,600 euros starting price, we have the right to want more.
Source : 9to5Mac
A fan of series, cinema and new technologies, it was my penchant for video games that got the better of me. Getting lost between Libertalia, the seas of Sea of Thieves and Kaer Morhen, such is the life I decided to lead between writing two articles.
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