Claims of a phased rollout for the foldable iPhone: Initial sales may be limited to the US
It has been suggested that Apple's first foldable iPhone model may initially be available only in the US due to limited stock and production issues.
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A new claim has emerged regarding Apple's long-rumored first foldable iPhone model. According to information from Australia-based ChannelNews, citing local operators and a major retailer, the device, expected to be called the “iPhone Ultra,” may not be released to the global market all at once in the initial phase.
According to the claim, even if the foldable iPhone is introduced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series, the sales schedule will proceed in phases. It is stated that the device may first enter stores only in the US, and then be opened to China and other key markets within two to three months.
This approach would not be an entirely new strategy for Apple. The company also released its mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro, only in the US in February 2024, before bringing it to other countries in the following months.
Supply chain constraints, pricing issues, and production problems reportedly persisting in test models are cited as the reasons behind the phased rollout claim. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the number of foldable iPhones that suppliers can ship throughout 2026 may be limited to 7 to 8 million units.
This amount is well below the 20-22 million unit production volume discussed for the iPhone 18 Pro models. For this reason, it is considered that it may be operationally difficult for Apple to begin sales in many countries from day one with limited stock.
On the other hand, all information currently consists of claims that lack official confirmation. Apple has not made any statement regarding the launch date, sales schedule, or which markets the foldable iPhone will be released in.