The iPhone Ultra, Apple's first foldable smartphone set to launch this September, may have a limited quantity of about only 1 million units.
Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known supply chain analyst, revealed that the iPhone Ultra, Apple's first foldable phone expected to launch in September, might face a delay in its market release by 1-2 months, similar to the situation with the iPhone X in 2017.
The device, unofficially called iPhone Ultra, will have a 5.5-inch external screen and a 7.8-inch internal screen when unfolded, roughly the size of an iPad mini. Additionally,when unfolded,the device will be less than 5 millimeters thick, making it thinner than the iPhone Air. The estimated price is between $2,300 and $2,500 (around 77,000–84,000 baht).
However, when Apple launchesthe foldable iPhone,in September, it is expected to be quite difficult to purchase. Kuo stated in his report that industry surveys indicate foldable iPhone assembly and shipments in the second half of 2026 will total about 7-8 million units, with only 0.5-1 million shipped in Q3 2026, roughly 10% of the total.
Meanwhile, shipments of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in the same quarter are expected to reach around 20-22 million units, vastly exceeding foldable iPhone numbers and sufficient to meet official launch stock demands.
Given these figures, Apple will produce no more than 8 million foldable iPhones by year-end, with only up to 1 million units ready for sale in Q3. This strongly suggests the September availability may be postponed, similar to the iPhone X case in 2017 which launched but was available later.
Regardless of the release date, the limited stock is expected to make it very difficult for buyers to get the device.
Kuo estimates delivery times for the iPhone Ultra may extend to 4-6 weeks or more, with consumers unlikely to find units until at least December 2026. He also predicts resale prices could be 50-100% higher than retail prices.
Therefore, those wanting the foldable iPhone should pre-order as early as possible since Q3 shipments are very limited, and walk-in purchases at stores will be unlikely.
Kuo expects the initial hype and supply constraints to ease by the first quarter of 2027, revealing clearer demand for the foldable iPhone.
Source:9to5Mac