Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom
- Launch of foldable iPhone postponed; pre-orders expected in Q4 2026.
- Manufacturing limitations were cited as the cause of the delay, akin to the iPhone X rollout.
- Analysts predict that demand will significantly surpass the limited availability of foldable units.
iPhone Ultra Speculations: Apple appears poised for a staggered release concerning its eagerly awaited foldable iPhone, which could be unveiled concurrently with the iPhone 18 Pro series.
However, consumers might not be able to place pre-orders until several weeks later. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo attributes this postponement to manufacturing hurdles.
If his predictions hold, the foldable iPhone could be showcased in September, with ordering potentially delayed until October—a strategy reminiscent of Apple’s approach in 2017.
Reasons Behind the Foldable iPhone Delay
As per Kuo, early production has faced constraints, leading to a projected wait until the fourth quarter of 2026 for pre-orders.
— Ming-Chi Kuo (@mingchikuo) July 5, 2026
Kuo draws a parallel with the iPhone X launch, where the device was announced alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus on September 12, 2017, yet pre-orders for the iPhone X did not commence until October 27, six weeks later.
The anticipated foldable model, rumored to be named iPhone Ultra, is projected to retail between $2,299 and $2,499 in the United States.
Kuo contends that demand is likely to eclipse supply significantly, suggesting that the device could vanish from stock almost immediately after pre-orders, with delivery times extending to 4-6 weeks or more.
Comparative Supply Insights for Apple’s Foldable iPhone
Projections regarding supply indicate the upcoming rollout of the foldable iPhone will be markedly limited. Apple’s suppliers are expected to deliver approximately 7 to 8 million foldable units in 2026.
In contrast, shipments for the iPhone 18 Pro models are anticipated to reach 20 to 22 million during the same timeframe.

The disparity in supply between these two product lines suggests that Apple regards the foldable iPhone as a high-demand, scarce item, at least during its inaugural year, rather than an immediate mainstream offering aimed at broad consumption.
Source link: News.abplive.com.






