Best Podcasts on Apple's Foldable iPhone & MacBook
Updated: Apr 11, 2026 – 12 episodes
Speculation is growing around Apple's potential development of a foldable iPhone and a new MacBook Neo. These rumored products could signify Apple's entry into the foldable device market, which has been gaining traction with other tech giants. The move could impact Apple's competitive positioning and innovation strategy in the hardware sector.
Three very different takes here — start with 9to5Mac Daily for a balanced view on Apple's rumored foldable iPhone and MacBook Neo. They discuss potential launch timelines and design shifts, making it a great starting point. Mac OS Ken is bullish, predicting a significant market impact and revenue boost from these devices. For a more skeptical perspective, 9to5Mac Happy Hour questions the foldable iPhone's sales potential despite its high price tag. Each podcast offers unique insights into Apple's strategy and market positioning.
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Ridealong has curated the best podcasts and clips about Rumors suggest Apple developing foldable iPhone and MacBook Neo. Listen now.
Podcast Episodes Covering This Story
“Now, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has refuted that report and says the iPhone Fold is on track for an expected September launch. Writing at Bloomberg, he says, Apple's first foldable is on track to arrive during the company's normal iPhone launch period later this year, people with knowledge of the matter said, rebutting concerns about major manufacturing snags. He continues, Apple is scheduled to introduce the foldable model in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's foldable iPhone is on track for a September launch despite earlier reports of production delays, but the MacBook Neo's repairability suggests a potential shift in Apple's design strategy.
“I did find it funny that the response to the Nikkei report was that the stock went down like five percent and not all of that was because of the iPhone fold... Why is there so much focus on a device that is not going to sell that many units... if you take 10 out of overall iPhone sales and make people pay twice as much for the phone like that's billions and billions of dollars.”
Ridealong summary
The focus on a foldable iPhone is overblown given its likely limited sales impact, but it could still drive significant revenue through higher pricing.
“Barclays analyst Tim Long says he believes, based on his research, that the iPhone Fold could launch in December. With the exception of 2020, Apple has announced and released new iPhones in September since the iPhone 5 in 2012. Still, it wouldn't be too surprising to see Apple release its most expensive iPhone model a few months after the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to launch months after the iPhone 18 Pro, following a pattern of staggered releases for new models.
“The Morningstar piece thinks the anticipated iPhone will be big for foldables and big for Apple. A folding iPhone could double the market for the form factor by the end of fiscal 2027, seems to be the analyst thinking. between now and then it could generate $40 billion to $60 billion in revenue for Apple.”
Ridealong summary
The foldable iPhone is expected to significantly boost Apple's market share and revenue, potentially doubling the foldable market by 2027.
“If a year or two from now, Apple is selling 100 million Macs a year because they're in this price band where most laptops are sold, that's going to really change how much emphasis the company puts on the Mac and Mac OS and everything else. We may all be the beneficiary of the MacBook Neo, even if we don't want one, just because it's going to make Apple really focus on the Mac a lot more if it becomes this huge thing that they have 100 million customers a year.”
Ridealong summary
The MacBook Neo could significantly increase Apple's Mac sales, forcing the company to prioritize Mac development and innovation.
“Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has new information about how the iPhone Fold will work from a software's perspective. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone Fold alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September, and of course, it will run iOS 27. Gurman reiterates that the iPhone Fold will feature an interior foldable display roughly the size of an iPad mini.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's foldable iPhone, expected to launch with the iPhone 18 Pro, will revolutionize the market with its innovative design and software features tailored for a foldable form factor.
“The supply chain website, the ELEC, reports that Apple had initially expected to sell around 10 million iPhone Fold units during the launch phase, but its manufacturing partners have now been told to expect to produce around 3 million. Whether or not this is actually true, the story suggests Apple learned from the Vision Pro launch and now accepts there may be a similar market response to an extremely pricey foldable iPhone, with only very early adopters willing to buy the first model.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's cautious approach to the iPhone Fold launch reflects concerns over high pricing and limited early adoption, suggesting skepticism about the foldable market's immediate viability.
“The company opted for a new display technology that reduces the crease without eliminating it entirely. Though not perfect, the approach could potentially give the company a marketing advantage. Another key issue Apple worked to solve is durability, a common concern with foldable devices. The goal was to increase the number of times the screen can be opened and shut before failing.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's foldable devices could redefine the market with innovative display technology and durability improvements, positioning them as premium products despite entering the market later than competitors.
“The strong implication here is that it's MacBook Neo, or at least it's sales driven in part or in whole by MacBook Neo existing to bring in more first-time Mac customers. I think all of us think that they're going to make inroads with people who've never really bought a Mac before with the MacBook Neo. And so here we go with Tim Cook's first sort of like shot across the bow saying, yes. Best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers.”
Ridealong summary
The MacBook Neo is attracting first-time Mac customers, expanding Apple's market reach without cannibalizing existing product lines.
“It feels like the Mac is tilting toward the iPad, and the iPhone is tilting toward the iPad as well. But the iPad is actually kind of tilting to neither. And it leaves it in this weird in-between space still, a bit of a different in-between space than we kind of thought of it before, where we kind of wanted it to move closer to the Mac.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's potential foldable devices could blur the lines between iPhones, iPads, and Macs, but the iPad may be left in an awkward middle ground.
“MacBook Neo uses 8GB of RAM to a Microsoft-mandated 16GB for Windows machines. Additionally, MacBook Neo's unified memory means it can more efficiently use the RAM that it does have, according to Engadget. efficiency and buying power aside ramnarock will hit apple in the form of higher prices same as it's hitting everybody else but apple can take the hit iphone just had its best quarter ever services keep scaling new heights.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's MacBook Neo, with its efficient architecture and supply chain leverage, positions the company to dominate the PC market despite industry-wide memory shortages.
“Apple still has the best hardware in the world with more products in the pipeline, including a foldable iPhone, which is expected to launch this year. The company is also working on smart glasses and other AI products, which are expected to launch in 2027. And I have no doubt that Apple's hardware will continue to be the best in class, especially with John Ternus leading the company.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's hardware will continue to be best in class, especially with John Ternus leading the company, as they venture into foldable devices.