We can confidently say that Apple plans to announce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September, and rumors about the vanilla iPhone 18 are consistently claiming it’ll launch next spring. However, the iPhone Ultra appears to be facing much more uncertainty as another leaker has come out with a different release date than the latest rumors suggested.
Forget about the iPhone Ultra delays
The latest claims that Apple has faced some technical difficulties that would force it to delay the foldable iPhone until next year may not be true. Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital said in a Weibo post (source in Chinese) that the rumors of a delay are completely false.
The same leaker has been consistently pointing at a September premiere, saying that even if there was a delay, it would be by about a month. That claim is in line with reports from Apple insider Mark Gurman who said that the foldable will be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September, but it may go on sale later than the slab model.
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The production issues rumors are still real
The iPhone Ultra will have a wide internal display. | Image by fpt.
Even if the iPhone Ultra announcement is settled, Apple is reportedly still facing various issues in its production. We’ve heard rumors of engineering challenges and durability issues with the hinge, among others.
These may not delay the whole production process, but they could lead to a lower production capacity and very limited availability, at least initially. How much of a problem that would be for a phone priced at around $2,000 remains unknown.
Which leaker is correct remains unclear as more reliable industry sources also send mixed signals. Various Apple suppliers have signaled that the company is changing its release schedule for the fall and may delay some products until next year. Largan Precision chairman Lin En-ping said a major US customer has postponed a new model launch.
The fourth quarter of this year will be busier than in previous years due to customer new product scheduling factors, with some new products expected to be launched in the third quarter and others postponed to early next year.
Lin En-ping, CEO Largan Precision, June 2026
Some industry people read that as a sign for the delay of the iPhone Ultra, while others have suggested it may be related to the vanilla iPhone 18. The base model has been rumored to launch in the spring alongside the iPhone Air 2 and the iPhone 18e for months.
Scarcity is useful for Apple
An iPhone Ultra dummy unit. | Image by Sonny Dickson
Splitting the iPhone Ultra launch from the iPhone 18 Pro won’t be such a major surprise. Apple did that with the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X in 2017. While the base models started selling in the usual September window, the anniversary device didn’t ship until November.
Still, it is unlikely for the company to wait until 2027 to release its first foldable, especially if it can have at least some units available. Apple is used to seeing much higher demand than supply for its most popular models, and its fans don’t seem surprised by it.
Even weeks after the iPhone 17 Pro Max sales started, some users on Reddit were complaining of long wait times and low availability, while others were saying that was normal for newly launched products.
A delay is highly unlikely
We’ve already seen signs of iPhone Ultra features inside iOS 27, and I doubt Apple would skip announcing its foldable alongside the OS release, unless there’s a truly major production issue. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the actual sales start a month or two after the iPhone 18 Pro.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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