Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled today, but getting your hands on one could be difficult at launch. A new report claims Apple is currently producing only a few hundred units per day, potentially leaving the company with a very limited supply when the phone goes on sale.
The reported production problems appear to be linked to Apple’s strict quality standards, although another report suggests the hinge could be proving particularly difficult to manufacture. If either claim is accurate, Apple may struggle to build enough iPhone Ultra units to meet demand when it launches.
Apple is expected to reveal the foldable iPhone at its ‘Surprise and shine’ event later today (September 9). The company has yet to confirm the device, but it is widely expected to be one of the biggest announcements of the event.
According to sources speaking to Nikkei Asia, Apple is currently managing to produce only a “few hundred” iPhone Ultra units each day. The report does not specify exactly what is holding up production, but there are claims that the hinge is one of the components causing difficulties.
That could be a significant problem for Apple. Foldable phones are already more complicated to manufacture than conventional smartphones, and the hinge needs to withstand repeated opening and closing while maintaining the thin profile expected of a premium iPhone.
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There could be some light at the end of the tunnel, though. Samsung is reportedly set to produce three million displays for the iPhone Ultra by the end of 2026, suggesting Apple expects production to ramp up over time.
For buyers, however, that doesn’t necessarily help at launch. Apple could delay pre-orders, limit initial availability or simply have far fewer phones ready to ship than it would normally expect for a new iPhone.
These reports are far from confirmed, so they should be treated cautiously. Still, after years of rumours surrounding Apple’s first foldable phone, production problems wouldn’t be entirely surprising.
If supply is particularly tight, buyers who want a new iPhone without waiting could be better served by the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. Neither is expected to have a foldable hinge to complicate production.