Key Takeaways
- ZDNET readers believe Apple will release a touchscreen MacBook before a foldable iPhone in 2026
- Survey respondents were split on smart home hub and smart glasses predictions
- Apple's September event, predicted for September 8, will reveal which predictions prove accurate
When polled on whether Apple would release a foldable iPhone in 2026, ZDNET readers said no. The majority instead bet on a touchscreen MacBook as Apple's next form factor surprise, according to the second round of the publication's reader prediction game running ahead of Apple's September event.
The skepticism is notable. Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and supply chain rumors have pointed to Apple developing an "Ultra" device line. But the readers who follow Apple most closely aren't buying the foldable narrative for this year.
What readers actually expect from Apple
The prediction game asks readers to guess iPhone 18 specs and broader Apple product moves, with correct answers earning entries to win an Apple Watch. Round two focused on form factors, color options, and product categories.
The results split into clear camps. Touchscreen MacBook believers outnumbered foldable iPhone believers by a significant margin. Respondents pointed to rumors of an OLED touchscreen laptop as more credible than a first-generation folding phone from a company known for entering categories late but polished.
Smart home hub and smart glasses predictions divided readers roughly in half. Both categories have circulated in Apple rumor mills for years. The improved Siri announced at WWDC 2026 earlier this summer gave both product types a plausible reason to exist: a voice assistant that finally works well enough to anchor a home device or pair of AR glasses.
The color predictions are telling
Color guesses spread fairly evenly across options, with one exception: almost no one picked orange or yellow. The reasoning is straightforward. Apple launched iPhone 17 in "Cosmic Orange" last year, and the color proved divisive among buyers. Readers assume Apple won't repeat a polarizing choice back to back.
This kind of pattern recognition drives much of the prediction game's appeal. Apple's product cadence has become predictable enough that attentive observers can make educated guesses. The company rarely introduces two bold colors in consecutive years. It rarely enters a new hardware category without years of internal development. And it rarely ships a first-generation product that isn't already refined.
Why the foldable skepticism makes sense
Samsung shipped its first foldable phone in 2019. Seven years later, Apple still hasn't entered the category. That's not accidental.
Apple's pattern is to wait until a product category matures, then ship a version that feels more complete than competitors. The iPad arrived three years after Microsoft's first tablet. The Apple Watch came years after Android Wear. AirPods launched well after Bluetooth earbuds existed but redefined expectations for the category.
Foldables still have visible creases. Battery life suffers from the form factor. Durability concerns persist. For Apple, which markets premium reliability, these issues likely disqualify the category until solutions exist.
The touchscreen MacBook theory
A touchscreen Mac has been rumored for years, and Apple executives have publicly dismissed the idea multiple times. But reader confidence in this prediction suggests the calculus may be changing.
The iPad Pro now runs an M-series chip. Stage Manager brought windowed multitasking to iPadOS. The line between Mac and iPad has blurred to the point where a touchscreen Mac no longer contradicts Apple's stated product philosophy. It just acknowledges what the iPad Pro already is.
An OLED touchscreen MacBook would also give Apple a premium tier above the current MacBook Air and Pro lineup. The "Ultra" branding floated in rumors fits this positioning: a laptop for users who want the best display technology regardless of price.
Logicity's Take
The reader poll reveals something more interesting than product predictions: Apple's customer base has internalized the company's development philosophy. They know foldables aren't ready by Apple's standards. They know color choices follow patterns. They know Apple enters categories late. This predictability is both Apple's strength and its constraint. The company has trained customers to expect a certain level of polish, which means it can't ship experimental products without damaging the brand. Samsung can iterate publicly with each Galaxy Fold generation. Apple has to get it right the first time, or not ship at all.
What happens next
Apple's September iPhone event typically lands in the first or second week of the month. ZDNET predicts September 8 based on the company's historical scheduling patterns. The event will confirm or refute reader predictions on form factors, colors, and whether Siri actually improved.
Round three of the prediction game launches August 18, 2026, and will focus on the live event itself: which products get announced, who hosts the keynote, and whether a foldable iPhone finally appears. Correct predictions earn additional entries to win an Apple Watch.
The reader consensus matters because it reflects how Apple's most engaged customers think about the company's roadmap. If the majority expects a touchscreen MacBook over a foldable iPhone, that expectation shapes how they'll receive whatever Apple actually announces.
The Samsung comparison looms
Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2026 showcased the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, directly challenging Apple's absence from the foldable market. The timing isn't accidental. Samsung wants to establish its foldables as the premium choice before Apple enters the category.
But reader skepticism about a 2026 foldable iPhone suggests Apple's customer base isn't feeling pressure to switch. They're willing to wait for Apple's version, however long that takes. Brand loyalty runs deep enough that Samsung's head start doesn't create urgency.
This patience gives Apple room to delay until the technology meets its standards. It also means the company faces minimal penalty for being years late to foldables. The readers who answered this survey aren't defecting to Samsung. They're just adjusting their expectations about when Apple will ship.
What the predictions reveal about Apple's brand
The most striking finding isn't any single prediction. It's that readers have developed a mental model of how Apple operates and apply it consistently. They expect the company to avoid risk, prioritize polish, follow color patterns, and enter new categories only when ready.
That mental model is a competitive asset. It means customers interpret Apple's product decisions charitably. A missing feature becomes evidence of high standards, not technical limitation. A late entry to a category becomes strategic patience, not competitive weakness.
Whether that interpretation holds depends on what Apple announces in September. If the company surprises everyone with a foldable iPhone, readers will revise their mental models. If it confirms expectations with a touchscreen MacBook or incremental iPhone updates, the pattern continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Apple's September 2026 iPhone event?
ZDNET predicts September 8, 2026, based on Apple's historical scheduling patterns for fall iPhone announcements.
Will Apple release a foldable iPhone in 2026?
ZDNET reader polls suggest most engaged Apple watchers don't expect a foldable iPhone this year. The majority bet on a touchscreen MacBook as more likely.
What colors will iPhone 18 come in?
Predictions spread across multiple options, but readers ruled out orange and yellow since iPhone 17 already launched in Cosmic Orange last year.
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Source: Latest news
Manaal Khan
Tech & Innovation Writer
Produced with AI assistance and reviewed by the Logicity editorial team. Learn more in our Editorial Policy.
