Apple iPhone Ultra faces shipping delays thanks to production issues
A fresh report says that production hurdles could result in a delay before the iPhone Ultra is released.
Apple's first foldable faces production issues | Image by FPT
If you are thinking that the first foldable iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra, will be in your hands in just two months, you'd better guess again. While Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone Ultra in early to mid-September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the rumored release date for the first foldable iPhone has been all over the calendar.
The iPhone Ultra release is a replay for the iPhone X launch
Highly reliable TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sees Apple replaying the 2017 iPhone X release with a September unveiling and pre-orders and shipments taking place in late October or early November because of low Q3 display yields. Tim Long, an analyst with Barclays Bank, and supply-chain reports say that surface-mount technology component shortages could delay iPhone Ultra shipments until December.
ET News and earlier supply-chain leaks say that Apple will preview the foldable phone in September, but retail availability will be pushed out to Spring 2027. Apple has held out on releasing a foldable iPhone until it could offer one with a display that would get rid of the dreaded crease that has marred the internal display of every foldable phone that came before it. Apple has created the components that will work with Samsung's foldable panel to eliminate the crease on the iPhone Ultra.
The iPhone X has similarities to the iPhone Ultra. | Image by PhoneArena
Most expect a short delay before the release of the first foldable iPhone
Right now, the consensus view is that the delay in the release of the iPhone Ultra will be very short. However, a delay does appear likely. In its report dated Thursday, DigiTimes stated that "final mass-production adjustments" are now being carried out by Foxconn. The headline for that story reads, "Apple's first foldable iPhone faces production hurdles," not exactly what you want to read about the first foldable iPhone in late July.
Which was your favorite radical iPhone design change?
At this stage, I'd expect to see the iPhone Ultra unveiled in September, followed by a brief delay of one to two months, which might actually be a good thing. Considering the hit that this device will take to consumers' wallets, it might be best to see it unveiled and then think about whether you really want it.
Sometimes a radical design change doesn't win over iPhone users
Think about what happened to a number of iPhone Air buyers, who were so captivated by the thin, lightweight design that warnings about the phone's battery life and the single-lens 48MP Fusion camera were ignored. Eventually, some of these iPhone Air buyers realized that they made a bad decision, ditching the iPhone Air for an iPhone 17 Pro model.
One iPhone Air user that I know was so enamored with his device when he first bought it. Now, he hates the battery life and the rear camera and can't wait to use it as a trade-in for an iPhone 18 Pro model. I wonder how many iPhone Air buyers might have never bought this model had they given it more thought.
The iPhone Ultra will be the most expensive iPhone yet
Keep in mind that the iPhone Ultra will be the most expensive iPhone ever. The rumored price range for the base 256GB model is $1,999 – $2,099. The top tier (512GB/1TB) model could cost as much as $2,300-$2,500. Currently, the most expensive iPhone is the 1TB variant of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is priced at $1,599.
Back on October 27, 2017, Apple started taking pre-orders for the iPhone X after introducing the device on September 12 of that year. It wasn't until November 3, 2017, that the phone was first released. The delay initially hurt sales during the holiday quarter, resulting in iOS losing market share to Android during the quarter.
Once supply caught up, pent-up demand for the device made up for the delay. The iPhone X, with its redesigned look, Face ID, edge-to-edge display and an OLED screen, became a commercial success despite a price tag that started at $999 for the 64GB variant, normalizing $1,000 pricing for flagship phones.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to increase the size of the foldable smartphone market by a huge 21% to 30% year-over-year. The Apple iPhone Ultra is expected to account for 22% to 25% of all smartphone shipments during its very first year.
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