Apple plans to launch at least five new iPhone models between the second half of 2026 and early 2027, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday, as the company ramps up foldable device production while navigating a global memory chip shortage.
The Cupertino giant has instructed suppliers to prepare for approximately 10 million foldable iPhones this year — up from an earlier forecast of 7 to 8 million units — marking Apple's long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone market.
According to Nikkei Asia, Apple has already secured components for roughly 80 million smartphones across its upcoming models for the second half of 2026. Total iPhone production for the year is expected to exceed 220 million units, giving Apple significant purchasing leverage even as AI-driven demand strains global memory supplies.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported Thursday that Apple is in active negotiations to source memory chips from two Chinese manufacturers — ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) — both of which are on a Pentagon blacklist of companies alleged to support Beijing's military. The chips would be used in devices sold within China.
The memory chip shortage — fueled by AI data center buildouts — has already forced Apple to raise prices on MacBooks and iPads last week, with increases of $100–200 across most models. The MacBook Air 512GB now starts at $1,299, up from $1,099.
Apple's scale has allowed it to navigate the shortage better than Chinese rivals like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, each of which has cut annual production targets to below 100 million units. "Compared with Apple's bargaining power, the Chinese smartphone makers are in a weak spot," an executive at a supplier for both Apple and Xiaomi told Nikkei.
The planned 2027 lineup reportedly includes the standard iPhone 18 and a new iPhone Air model. This aggressive cadence comes amid a broader industry recalibration as AI memory demand reshapes the global semiconductor supply chain.
