Apple Accelerates Foldable iPhone, Vision Air Plans Amid AI 'Urgency' [Kuo]

A new report from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple supplier General Interface Solution (GIS) has secured an exclusive role in providing key components for Apple's upcoming foldable devices and next-generation headset lineup. According to Kuo, the move underscores Apple's urgency in accelerating hardware innovation as it works to regain ground in artificial intelligence.

GIS will take sole responsibility for the backend processing of Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) used in Apple's foldable iPhone and iPad. This process includes cutting, edge treatment, inspection, and packaging of the delicate material, which is far more complex than traditional cover glass. The company is reportedly working with Corning, the exclusive supplier of raw UTG, to ensure stability and near-zero defect rates. Costs for UTG processing are estimated at two to four times higher than conventional glass due to its sensitivity to micro-cracks and stress fatigue.

Apple's first foldable iPhone is projected for a 2026 launch, with a foldable iPad following in 2028. Kuo notes that Apple has revised its shipment forecasts upward, now expecting 8–10 million units in 2026 and as many as 20–25 million in 2027. The foldable iPad, while smaller in volume at an estimated 0.5–1 million units in its first year, will carry a much higher unit price due to its larger UTG panels.


Beyond foldables, GIS is also expanding its role in Apple's headsets. While the supplier currently handles lamination for the Vision Pro, it will take on a far larger responsibility with the 'Vision Air,' Apple's more affordable mixed-reality headset. GIS will become the exclusive vendor of Pancake lenses, replacing the current supplier, and combining this with its lamination business for greater vertical integration. The Vision Air is expected to be more than 40% lighter and over 50% cheaper than the Vision Pro, with shipments projected to reach one million units in 2027 — a sharp increase compared to the Vision Pro's sub-400,000 unit sales. The launch aligns with a previously leaked roadmap of Apple's head-mounted devices.

Kuo attributes Apple's accelerated push to a "sense of urgency" amid its struggles to compete with rivals in AI — a challenge well documented in recent reports. With these next-generation product orders, GIS is emerging as a cornerstone supplier in Apple's strategy to drive new hardware growth and long-term profitability.

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