Although all leaks agree that Apple is preparing to unveil its first foldable iPhone—whether it is called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra—the most important question on the minds of tech enthusiasts is: When will this phone actually hit the market? The latest answer may bring unpleasant news for the global audience outside the United States.
Production delays and challenges: The iPhone X scenario returns
Most sources expect Apple to showcase its foldable phone during its annual conference next September. However, recurring reports regarding manufacturing challenges suggest the possibility of a delay similar to what happened during the launch of the iPhone X, where the device was announced in September but pre-orders were delayed until November.
Even when the phone becomes available for purchase, estimates indicate that quantities will be extremely limited. Although the expected price will easily exceed the $2,000 barrier, the projected demand may far outweigh the supply, which could lead to long waiting periods for those who do not rush to book as soon as pre-orders open.
But the latest report does not stop at just the delay; it hints at an exceptional measure that Apple has not taken with iPhones in over 15 years: limiting the initial launch of the phone to the US market only.
The Apple Vision Pro precedent: Will Apple repeat the scenario?
The source of this new rumor is a leak from Chinese supply chains reported by the Australian site Channel News. Although the news is not officially confirmed yet, the idea is not entirely far-fetched given Apple’s recent strategy with high-end products and new technology.
When Apple unveiled the Apple Vision Pro at WWDC 2023, it clearly announced that the launch would be limited to the United States first. Indeed, sales began there in February 2024, and the headset did not reach markets like China and Japan until June, followed by countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany in July.
If reports of production issues are correct, limiting the foldable iPhone to the US market in the first phase is a logical step to control high demand in light of the shortage of quantities available to suppliers.
Only 10 million units: Is it enough for global demand?
Reports state that Apple has asked suppliers to increase production of the foldable phone to about 10 million units by the end of 2026, an increase from previous estimates that hovered around 7 to 8 million units. Although this number seems large, it is very small compared to annual iPhone sales, which exceed 250 million devices, confirming that quantities will be scarce.
The report also indicated that Apple might not even reveal the price of the foldable phone during the September conference, with expectations that the conference will be held on Wednesday, September 9, to avoid public holidays, with pre-orders starting on Saturday, September 12, to avoid the date of September 11, as Apple previously did with the iPhone 6s.
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