iPhone Ultra could be the hottest foldable of 2026, although you might have to wait a bit longer to get your hands on one
Patience is a virtue as the saying goes
Quick Summary
The folding iPhone might be difficult to get hold of after the expected September launch.
Analyst Ming Chi Kuo has claimed that only one million iPhone Ultra units could be available soon after launch, and delivery times could be longer than six weeks.
We’re just a couple of months out from September (we know, the year flown by) and if you follow the technology launch calendar, you’ll know that means a couple of things.
First, we should see some new foldable phones and potentially smartwatches from Samsung soon, with its next Galaxy Unpacked event taking place on 22 July. Second, Google should treat us to some new Pixels, probably sometime in August. And lastly, Apple’s next iPhones should follow in September, and with a little twist to the norm this year, too.
Will the iPhone Ultra launch the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro?
It is widely speculated that Apple will finally introduce a folding iPhone this year – the iPhone Ultra. However, a new report suggests the device may face delivery delays, so it could be tricky to get hold of one.
Supply chain analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo (via 9to5Mac) has claimed the folding iPhone will have very limited supply at launch.
“My latest industry survey indicates that assembly shipments for the foldable iPhone in 2H26 will be roughly 7-8 million units, with 3Q26 shipments at 0.5-1 million units, or about 10 per cent of the total," he explained in a report.
"By comparison, estimated 3Q26 shipments of the iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max total roughly 20-22 million units, significantly higher than the foldable iPhone and already meeting the inventory requirement for an official launch.”
Based on those numbers, it’s fair to say it could be exceptionally difficult to get your hands on a folding iPhone before the end of the year. In his report, Kuo also noted that delivery times could be as much as six weeks and potentially longer.
The device is expected to thinner than the iPhone Air when unfolded, at below 5mm and it is thought to offer a similar shape to the iPad mini when open. According to rumours, the iPhone Ultra could have a 5.5-inch external display, and a 7.8-inch internal display.
For now, there is no official confirmation on whether the folding iPhone will launch this year alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. If it does, though, it might be worth expecting Apple to take the same approach as it did with the iPhone X to avoid disappointment.
