iPhone Ultra faces serious delays because of production issues

The unveiling of the foldable iPhone Ultra is scheduled for September 9, but the excitement of the brand-new product may be overshadowed by limited availability. The device has reportedly faced some serious production issues, which could lead to very limited stocks once the phone finally reaches the market.

iPhone Ultra production is reportedly limited to just a few hundred units a day

Apple’s production of the iPhone Ultra managed to reach only a few hundred units in late August, according to a new Nikkei Asia report. To meet the planned production goals, the company needs to make tens of thousands of phones every day.

While Apple and its suppliers are reportedly working around the clock to ramp up production, the process may take a bit too long. If things don’t improve quickly enough, the iPhone Ultra will be very difficult to get, at least in the first weeks after its launch.

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The delays are caused by Apple’s quality standards

The main reason for the low output is the extremely high quality control standards Apple has. The company has reportedly carried out an extra trial run and verification process in August, which has delayed commercial production for weeks.

Two things that were key for Apple were the hinge performance and the flatness of the display. The company demanded testing under more extreme conditions, with more folding cycles, and enforced higher quality and durability standards than its competitors.



Early reports claimed that Apple was targeting about 7-8 million units before the end of the year. However, that number may have been raised to around 10 million units, according to more recent reports.

While it’ll take years to fully assess its durability, the inner display of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 may have managed to achieve the flatness Apple is insisting on. In his in-depth review of Samsung’s first passport-style foldable, my colleague Victor said you can find the crease if you look for it, but it has practically disappeared and it’s not a distraction.

Is the iPhone Ultra release going to be delayed?

We have been hearing rumors of production snags and initial supply issues with the iPhone Ultra for months. Apple has faced multiple problems with the hinge material and production, which has even led to the phone making rattling noises at one point.

These hurdles have resulted in multiple reports that the foldable may see a radically different release schedule than the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Similar to the iPhone X, the iPhone Ultra may see pre-orders and shipments delayed until late October or even early November. Other, more extreme claims, even suggested the launch could be pushed to next spring.

Such delays could come as great news for some of Apple’s main competitors across the globe, as it’ll give them some extra time to capture market share. Samsung is already enjoying the surprising demand of the Z Fold 8, while Huawei is about to launch its second-generation tri-foldable. 

Xiaomi is also scheduled to reveal more details for its own wide foldable, the Xiaomi 18 Fold, on September 7. Just like Huawei’s devices, this phone will sell only in China, which is Apple’s second-largest market.

Long delays are unacceptable

I’m sure everyone will appreciate having a very durable foldable, especially if it comes at a reasonable price, but Apple shouldn’t delay its launch too much. The company is among the few manufacturers that usually start selling their products shortly after announcing them, and keeping the tradition alive with a new type of product seems especially important.

On the other hand, I’m sure many people will be willing to wait a little longer, especially considering Apple is almost a decade late to the foldable smartphone game.

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