Overview
- Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now expects Apple to reveal the foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026, with early-stage yield and ramp-up issues delaying smooth shipments until 2027 and keeping supply tight through late 2026.
- Kuo’s note, echoed by MacRumors, indicates development is behind earlier expectations and suggests manufacturing hurdles—potentially including hinge finalization—could slow mass production.
- To meet rising AI expectations, Kuo says Apple may lean more on Google’s Gemini in the near term, while Wccftech reports an unconfirmed deal for a customized 3‑trillion‑parameter Gemini model at about $1 billion per year.
- Wccftech also reports Apple is working with Broadcom on an AI server chip codenamed “Baltra,” with initial deployment currently targeted for 2027.
- Kuo argues the larger foldable display favors multimodal AI interactions and forecasts Apple’s push into AI smart glasses, with a reported 2026 target and meaningful market growth more likely after 2028–2030.