Apple working on two foldable iPhones? Rumors says one will run on MacOS

Apple is reportedly working on two foldable devices—a foldable iPhone and a bigger foldable device with 18.8-inch display. The bigger foldable iPad-like device is rumoured to run on macOS instead of iPadOS potentially making Apple move into touchscreen Macs.

In Short

• Apple is said to be working on a foldable iPhone with around 8-inch inner display
• This device is said to enter the prototyping stage in April 2025
• The second foldable is likely to feature an 18.8-inch foldable screen with macOS software

Just a few days ago, we got rumours buzzing about Apple starting the production of its first-ever foldable device. In fact, according to analyst Jeff Pu, Apple’s foldable lineup will include not just one but two devices. He states that Apple is developing a foldable iPhone and a larger foldable device, likely a foldable iPad. However, now, according to his new report, the foldable iPad-size screen might run on macOS instead of iPadOS, potentially paving the way for Apple’s entry into offering touchscreen Macs.

According to Pu, Apple is planning to develop two foldables, and the first foldable iPhone would get a 7.8-inch inner display. In his research note, Pu noted that this foldable iPhone device is currently in the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn, which is Apple’s primary manufacturing partner. This device is reportedly set to enter the early prototyping stage in April 2025, with mass production slated to begin in the second half of 2026.

Foldable iPhone rumoured features

Accoridng to several reprots, the foldable device, which could be an iPhone is rumoured to feature an 8-inch inner display, which will allow it to compete directly with existing foldable smartphones from brands like Samsung and Huawei.

The second foldable Apple device, on the other hand, is said to be a MacBook-iPad hybrid with an 18.8-inch foldable display. This larger device is expected to serve as a touch-screen laptop form factor, potentially running macOS instead of iPadOS. While these are speculations, if Apple indeed introduces a foldable screen with macOS, this could finally push Apple towards bringing touchscreens to its Mac devices.

Notably, Pu’s report aligns with a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, which stated that Apple is planning two foldables for future releases. The report mentioned that these new foldables from Apple are "intended to serve as a laptop." According to the report, one of the devices could be the largest-ever MacBook with a foldable 19-inch screen, while the second would be a foldable iPhone with a display bigger than the current iPhone 16 Pro Max, which has a 6.9-inch screen.

Additionally, the recent buzz around Apple’s foldables has been reinforced by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who, in his latest Power On newsletter, suggested that Apple’s software updates in 2025iOS 19 and macOS 16could potentially lay the groundwork for new hardware designs, including foldable devices and touchscreen Macs. His report suggests Apple's ongoing efforts not only in hardware development but also in ensuring its software can seamlessly adapt to these new foldable designs.

While the reports of Apple finally pushing its foldable lineup is intriguing, we should take these reports with a pinch of salt, as nothing has been confirmed by Apple. Although Apple has not been entirely silent on foldables, the company has been filing various patents to bring its foldable display technology to life. So, Apple is definitely working on foldable devices, but when we actually see themonly time will tell.