According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi KuoApple will likely have a very limited supply of the iPhone Ultra at the time of the announcement in September. This means the company may delay shipping for another month or two, similar to the iPhone X.
Apple’s long-awaited first foldable iPhone (rumored to be called iPhone Ultra) should finally debut at the end of this year. It should include a 5.5-inch outer screen and a 7.8-inch inner screen, making it similar to an iPad mini. It will also be less than 5mm thick when unfolded, making it even thinner than an iPhone Air. It is rumored that he will enter between $2300 and $2500what Kuo reaffirms.
However, when Apple announces the foldable iPhone in September, it will be incredibly difficult to get one. Of Kuo’s report.:
My latest industry survey indicates that assembly shipments for the foldable iPhone in 2H26 will be approximately 7 to 8 million units, with 3Q26 shipments of 0.5 to 1 million units, or about 10% of the total. By comparison, estimated shipments of the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max in 3Q26 total approximately 20-22 million units, significantly more than the foldable iPhone and already meeting the inventory requirements for an official launch.
Apple will only make up to 8 million foldable iPhones by the end of the year, of which only 1 million will be available in the third quarter. This makes a September launch unlikely, similar to iPhone. Regardless, when it goes on sale, it will be incredibly difficult to get one with these numbers.
Kuo estimates that delivery times could extend to “4-6 weeks or more,” and that it will be difficult to get one until at least December. He even predicts that the iPhone Ultra could sell for a 50-100% premium over its actual retail price.
Wrap
All in all, if you want a foldable iPhone, pre-ordering one as soon as possible will be the only way to get it close to launch. Given the incredibly low number of Q3 shipments, I wouldn’t assume that you’ll be able to just walk into a store and freely purchase one.
Kuo estimates that launch rumors and supply constraints should have faded by the first quarter of 2027, and by then we’ll have a much better idea of what foldable iPhone demand is like.
Are you waiting for the iPhone Ultra? Will you be purchasing one at launch? Let us know in the comments.
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