It was previously reported that Apple (Apple) is developing a foldable MacBook Pro model, which will be more than 20 inches in size and will support both touch and keyboard input. This plan has also been confirmed by Samsung Display executives. Apple is still developing a MacBook with a foldable display. Due to the current lack of durability, the company has delayed its launch.
According to reports from foreign media Real Mi Central and The Elec, Samsung Electronics (Samsung Electronics) general manager Bai Chengren revealed in a speech at the SID Review event that Apple is currently cooperating with LG Display to jointly develop a foldable 20-inch laptop and tablet hybrid device for Apple. Due to the need to solve various technical obstacles for folding screens, the development process will take a lot of time to solve.
It is understood that LG Display and Apple are cooperating to develop another foldable OLED flexible panel technology, which will be covered with a new ultra-thin glass instead of polyimide flexible material (CPI).
Apple also obtained the foldable screen patent in May 2019 in advance. According to the description in the patent document, the screen can be folded in different forms, and can even be folded multiple times. From the patent picture, the appearance is similar to the foldable design of the iPad screen.
Earlier this year, South Korean media BusinessKorea and Bloomberg Mark Gurman also quoted industry sources as saying that Apple is negotiating with panel suppliers to launch a foldable MacBook notebook computer and iPad hybrid, which will use a dual-screen display panel without a physical keyboard and touchpad. A virtual keyboard can be displayed on the other side of the screen, and it can be operated by touch. According to user needs, it can be switched between iPad or MacBook.
Industry sources have learned that Apple plans to release the first foldable MacBook model in 2025, and it will not be officially launched for sale until 2026. It is reported that it is mainly to solve the current problem of foldable screens, which will cause Apple to delay the launch.
Samsung Display executive Bai Chengren also emphasized at the event that since the launch of the first Samsung folding mobile phone in 2019, each current foldable device has faced multiple technical challenges, including screen creases, folding cracks, stylus damage to the screen, compressive stress, folding distortion, and easy deformation of the screen.
At present, both Samsung Display and LG Display are working hard to develop foldable OLED panels and production plans. Among them, Samsung invested 4.1 trillion won (approximately NT$91.8 billion) and plans to produce 8.6 generations of foldable OLED screen panels from 2025 to 2026. LG Display invests in medium-sized OLED panels suitable for tablet computers.
According to the panel industry, large-size panels are more profitable than small-size panels, and it will be very difficult to achieve high resolution. However, foldable display screens are more profitable for notebook computers than smartphones.
Further reading: Will the next-generation iPad Pro use a folding tablet?Maybe it can solve the inconvenience of carrying
