The reason behind the foldable iPhone Ultra’s staggered launch makes sense, but I’m still bummed about it

If you're not situated stateside, you'll likely have to wait for the iPhone Ultra to hit store shelves near you.

Realistic foldable iPhone Ultra dummy unit
Apple fans have waited years for this, many will wait a few months longer if they have to. | Image by Techmong
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Apple’s foldable iPhone — likely to be named the iPhone Ultra — will be unveiled in just two days’ time. However, the highly anticipated foldable flagship is expected to see a staggered launch around the world, and while the reasoning behind it makes sense, that doesn’t mean that customers won’t be bummed about it.

Foldable iPhone Ultra in North America first




While previous reports have also said something similar, a new report (translated source) from one of the most reliable sources on the internet has corroborated claims of a staggered launch. Apple will most likely release the iPhone Ultra in North America first, possibly only across the United States to begin with.

Other high-profile regions, like South Korea, might not see the phone hitting shelves until after at least the end of October. That’s almost a two-month delay if everything goes according to plan.

Will you wait for the iPhone Ultra to launch in your region?
2 Votes


Hinge and panel yield issues persist


The reason behind the staggered launch is apparently the yield issues currently being a hurdle for Apple. Both the hinge of the phone as well as the panels are running into problems during manufacturing, which is leading to fewer defect-free units being produced.

Simply put, there aren’t enough completed components to make iPhone Ultra units for a global launch immediately after its unveiling on September 9.

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Some of you might not wait for it




While many would be more than happy to wait a few months for the iPhone Ultra to come out locally — after all, Apple fans have waited years for a foldable iPhone — some would not. For a small subset of the customer base, having to wait even longer for the iPhone Ultra just means that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks even more compelling now.



However, the staggered launch is unlikely to have any meaningful effect — positive or negative — on sales of the iPhone Ultra. Nevertheless, the sooner that Apple can get more units on shelves, the better. To that end, Apple is trying its hardest to ramp up production, according to sources.



I still advise waiting another year




I, personally, would still advise waiting another year for the second iteration of the iPhone Ultra. As I’ve said countless times before, this is a first-generation product.

And if the iPhone 17 Pro, the Apple Vision Pro, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and the Galaxy Z TriFold have taught us anything recently, it’s to steer clear of the foldable iPhone.
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