Apple is preparing to open a new chapter in its hardware story with the arrival of a foldable iPhone in 2026, followed by a foldable iPad in 2028. The iPhone is set to be part of the iPhone 18 lineup, marking the company’s first step into foldable devices. The larger iPad will follow a couple of years later, with reports indicating a massive 18- to 20-inch display when fully opened. For years, speculation bounced between a foldable iPad, MacBook, or iPhone coming first, but the path forward is now clear: the iPhone will lead the way.
Both foldables will rely on ultra-thin glass made by Corning, while General Interface Solution (GIS) takes on the difficult job of finishing the material through cutting, polishing, and packaging. This type of glass is far trickier and more expensive to work with than what is used in standard phones, making GIS’s role key to pulling it off. Apple is also setting bold shipment goals, with 8 to 10 million foldable iPhones expected in 2026 and as many as 25 million in 2027. The foldable iPad, by contrast, will be a more niche device thanks to its larger size and higher price tag, with shipments projected between 0.5 and 1 million units.
Alongside the foldables, Apple is also preparing to launch Vision Air in 2027. This headset is designed to fix two of the biggest complaints about the Vision Pro: weight and price. Vision Air is said to be over 40% lighter and more than 50% cheaper, potentially landing in the $1,500 to $1,750 range. Apple expects to ship around a million units in the first year, more than double the numbers for the current Vision Pro. GIS will once again be at the center of production, this time as the exclusive supplier of pancake lenses in addition to its lamination work.
Taken together, these projects signal Apple’s intention to accelerate hardware innovation starting in 2026. With foldable iPhones, a massive-screen foldable iPad, and a lighter Vision Air headset all lined up, the company is building a next wave of products to sit alongside its AI push. For suppliers like GIS, it marks a turning point, locking in their place at the heart of Apple’s next-generation devices.
(via Ming-Chi Kuo)
