Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to make its long-awaited debut on Wednesday, but getting hold of one could prove considerably harder than simply deciding whether its rumored $2,000-plus price is worth paying.
Fresh supply-chain reporting suggests production of the iPhone Ultra was still running at unusually low volumes during August, raising the possibility that Apple’s most anticipated new iPhone in years could face severe shortages when it goes on sale.
Suppliers were reportedly producing only a few hundred acceptable iPhone Ultra units per day during August, with quality-control inspections rejecting a significant number of devices, as reported by AppleInsider.
The report suggests the problem is not necessarily a lack of manufacturing activity. Instead, the complexity of producing Apple’s first foldable appears to be making it difficult for suppliers to achieve the consistency required for devices to pass Apple’s quality checks.
That could create a difficult launch-day equation. The iPhone Ultra is expected to be the headline product at Apple’s September event and could generate considerable early demand from enthusiasts, while supply may be far more limited than for a conventional iPhone launch.
Apple is expected to use a book-style folding design with an internal display of roughly 7.7 inches and a smaller external display. Reports have also pointed to an unusually thin design, a sophisticated hinge intended to minimise the visible display crease, Touch ID in the side button and Apple’s A20 Pro chip.
Price is unlikely to make it a mass-market device. Estimates have placed the starting price at around $2,099 to $2,299, while reports covered by The Apple Post suggest the highest-capacity model could push beyond $3,000.
Even at those prices, limited early production could mean launch stock disappears quickly. Apple’s foldable has been rumored for years, and its arrival gives buyers who have deliberately waited for an Apple-made foldable their first opportunity to purchase one.
Apple is expected to reveal availability details during Wednesday’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. If the latest production reports prove accurate, however, anyone determined to own an iPhone Ultra at launch may want to be ready the moment orders open.
