Apple's Foldable iPhone Might Launch With Limited Availability

Apple’s foldable iPhone appears close to launch, but availability may be constrained, according to iOS 27 code signals and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says Apple plans to offer only a limited number of units at launch, potentially announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, with preorders and sales beginning later. He compares the expected rollout to the iPhone X in 2017, when manufacturing challenges after a major redesign limited end-of-September output to about 1 million units. Kuo estimates 2H26 foldable iPhone assembly shipments of roughly 7–8 million, with 3Q26 shipments of 0.5–1 million (around 10% of total). He reports the foldable could be called iPhone Ultra, in a passport-style form factor, with two rear cameras and an A20 Pro chip. Kuo expects strong demand even at a price of about $2,300–$2,500, while Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $2,000.