Apple expects even bigger desire for the iPhone Ultra – orders additional foldable stock before launch
The launch of the iPhone Ultra is expected to stir more than just a little excitement
Quick Summary
Apple is thought to be increasing the number of iPhone Ultra models that it has ordered, hitting the 10 million mark.
That could see up to 85 million iPhone orders expected for the second half of 2026.
Apple has reportedly increased the number of iPhone Ultra folding phone models in manufacture, as the company expects high interest in the new device. It's said that Apple will manufacture 10 million units of the new iPhone Ultra model.
The revised figure comes from Nikkei Asia (via 9to5Mac), increasing the estimate from the original order for 7-8 million phones. That's almost a 30% increase in the expected numbers that Apple will produce, according to a source close to the company.
The new folding iPhone is expected to land with a high asking price, expected to be around $2,500 (around £1,900, but Apple often doesn't directly exchange prices in different regions).
While the estimates for these devices are increasing, the report also says that Apple is increasing iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max numbers too, while the message going out to suppliers is to forecast "up to 85 million new iPhones for the second half of 2026".
While demand for the new folding model seems to be increasing, it will be dwarfed by demand for the updated iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
In a change to the normal launch cycle, it's been rumoured that Apple will be launching the iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September, with the iPhone 18 expected to follow at an event in March 2027.
That will allow Apple to focus on its premium models and drive sales of higher value phones, before the availability of more affordable models the following year. In 2026, the updates to the iPhone 17 were so good, that we said in our review that if you don't need a telephoto camera, then take the iPhone 17 over the Pro.
When the new iPhone models do launch in September, the iPhone Ultra is expected to garner most of the attention, with the iPhone 18 Pro expected to have much the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro, but introduce a few new elements like new colours, a variable aperture camera and new core hardware.
The iPhone Ultra will go head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, a wider format of folding phone from Samsung who has dominated much of the book-style folding phone market outside China to date.
The switch in format has seen the iPhone Ultra likened to a folding iPad Mini and it's expected that Apple's experience from iPadOS will help usability on the larger display.
