- Mass production of the iPhone Ultra foldable was originally scheduled for early June but has been pushed to August and is now stalled again.
- In late July, Foxconn was still making adjustments to its mass production plans.
- Apple will unveil the foldable at its September 8 event, but it will be released only in the US first.
- China and other key markets will follow, while Australia will have to wait months to buy the phone.
- Pricing for the foldable has not been announced at the launch event, and it is expected to be up to AUD 700 higher than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
- Development of the foldable has been hampered by supply and pricing issues, along with testing issues with production models that have already been built.
- Apple engineers and designers encountered problems with the hinge and display during testing, which has delayed mass production.
- ChannelNews reported that Apple is expected to make 7 million foldables in the second half of this year.
Apple's iPhone Ultra foldable is set to launch exclusively in the US initially, with other markets, including China, facing delays due to ongoing supply, pricing, and testing issues.4567
A report indicates that mass production was originally scheduled for June but has been postponed to August and may face further delays.1
According to sources, Apple engineers encountered significant problems with the hinge and display during testing, which has contributed to the production holdups.8
The company is expected to produce 7 million foldables in the latter half of the year, but the launch event on September 8 will not coincide with the release of the iPhone 18 Pro.9
Reports suggest that Apple will not disclose the pricing of the foldable at the launch, with estimates indicating it could be significantly higher than the current Pro models, potentially up to AUD 700 more than the existing retail price of AUD 2,999 (approximately $2,118).
As production issues persist, insiders claim that engineering validation could lead to an additional two-month delay, further complicating the timeline for international releases.
The situation highlights the challenges Apple faces in bringing innovative products to market amidst complex supply chain dynamics.
“Mass production was originally set for June, slipped to August, and now faces further delays, with Foxconn still adjusting plans in late July. Apple will not announce pricing at the September 8 event, and Australia pricing could be up to AUD 700 higher than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.”
