Apple Increases Production Plans for Foldable iPhone Ultra
Apple has instructed its suppliers to gear up for the production of 10 million units of the foldable iPhone Ultra this year. This figure marks an increase from the previously estimated 7 to 8 million units, as reported by Nikkei Asia.
This escalation in production reflects bolstered confidence in both manufacturing viability and consumer demand, coinciding with the device’s advance into its final engineering stages before mass production is slated to commence at the end of July.
The iPhone Ultra is set to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September. However, shipments are anticipated to roll out later in the year due to staggered production schedules.
Apple’s orders comprise 70 million units for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max combined, along with an additional 80 million units across other newly introduced models.
This brings the aggregate iPhone orders for 2026 to around 220 million units, aligning with IDC’s forecast of nearly 240 million iPhone shipments for the year.
While the foldable variant is secondary in volume contributions when compared to the Pro lineup, this 25% increase in production signals that the company has surmounted earlier durability and manufacturing tolerance issues encountered during the spring development phase.
The iPhone Ultra is characterized by its unique iPad-like form factor when unfolded, featuring a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display designed in a 4:3 aspect ratio, wider than the elongated clamshell design utilized by competitors such as Samsung.
Internally, the device is equipped with the A20 chip and C2 modem, replacing Face ID with a Touch ID integrated into the power button.
It will come with a dual rear camera setup. Price points are anticipated to commence at $1,999 for the 256GB variant, ascending to $2,500 contingent upon storage capacity.
A notable aspect of the iPhone Ultra is its nearly imperceptible display crease, an achievement stemming from a decade-long engineering endeavor aimed at eliminating the crease that characterizes most existing foldable devices.
Industry sources indicate that Apple pursued this solution “regardless of cost.” Initial durability tests revealed certain challenges, including audible noise from the hinge mechanism and wider-than-expected manufacturing tolerances, which contributed to elevated defect rates in early production batches.
Nonetheless, sources from Taiwan indicate that most of these complications have been largely resolved.
The device will be available in two color variants: a silver and white model alongside an indigo finish reminiscent of the iPhone 17 Pro’s Deep Blue.
Apple plans to utilize ultra-thin glass sourced from Chinese manufacturer Lens Technology, with Corning expected to provide the requisite raw materials.
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s entrance into the foldable smartphone arena is projected to catalyze a 24% surge in foldable smartphone panel shipments this year, accompanied by a revenue increase of approximately 48% on a year-over-year basis.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has cautioned that the frequently cited expectation of 15 to 20 million foldable iPhone units likely reflects cumulative demand throughout the device’s entire two- to three-year lifecycle, rather than solely for the year 2026.
This suggests that annual volumes may remain moderate. Additionally, supply-chain disruptions might hinder seamless shipments until 2027, with potential shortages extending through the conclusion of 2026.
Source link: Ithinkdiff.com.
