Apple has told suppliers to prepare approximately 10 million foldable iPhones for 2026, up from a previous forecast of 7–8 million units, according to a Nikkei Asia report published Thursday.
The increased order signals growing confidence inside Apple that its first foldable device — expected to be called the "iPhone Ultra" — will be ready for a September launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Engineering problems related to the foldable's hinge mechanism — historically one of the toughest challenges in foldable phone design — have reportedly been resolved, though the report notes that a larger production run likely won't begin until closer to the end of the year.
Apple has already booked parts for roughly 80 million smartphones for the second half of 2026, which includes the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and the foldable. The company's total production for 2026 is expected to exceed 220 million units.
The foldable iPhone is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, along with Touch ID instead of Face ID, an A20 chip, and Apple's custom C2 modem. IDC has predicted an average selling price of $2,500, with some configurations potentially reaching $3,000.
The move comes as Apple's rivals — Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo — have each cut their annual production targets below 100 million units amid an industry-wide memory shortage. Apple's purchasing power has left it far better positioned to weather the component crunch.
Apple raised prices on MacBooks and iPads last month in response to rising component costs, but the iPhone 17 lineup has so far been spared. Industry watchers expect the iPhone 18 and foldable Ultra to introduce a new higher pricing tier.
With this launch, Apple enters a foldable phone market that Samsung has dominated since 2019, but which has recently shown signs of slowing growth. The iPhone Ultra's massive production order suggests Apple expects to rapidly capture significant market share.
