Apple Inc. has reportedly raised the production target for its first foldable smartphone to 10 million units, according to supply chain reports from July 2026.
The tech giant is preparing an aggressive product roadmap despite global component shortages affecting rivals.
Initially, Apple forecast an output of 7 million to 8 million units before upgrading its directives to suppliers, as reported by Nikkei Asia.
To secure broader operations, Apple has lined up components for about 80 million smartphones across multiple new models scheduled for the second half of 2026, aiming for an annual production exceeding 220 million devices.
Supply and Demand Challenges
Market analyst Ming-Chi Kuo detailed logistical challenges for the premium device, widely rumored to be named iPhone Ultra.
Assembly complexities for its flexible OLED layout are expected to compress early availability after its unveiling.
Kuo's latest industry survey indicates assembly shipments for the foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026 will be roughly 7–8 million units.
Third-quarter shipments are estimated at 0.5–1 million units, about 10% of the total, compared to 20–22 million units for iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max.
The hardware's manufacturing cost structures will result in an unprecedented retail price, estimated at $2,300–$2,500.
Despite being double the cost of the current flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max, consumer demand is expected to outpace initial shipments at least through the end of 2026.
Kuo warned early buyers should expect extended wait times.
The device is predicted to sell out immediately after pre-orders open, with delivery lead times stretching to 4–6 weeks or longer and remaining there through December.
Scarce initial supply, a highly recognizable design, and innovative user experience should support a short-term resale premium.
An ongoing global memory shortage driven by AI data center demand continues to escalate manufacturing costs.
A supplier executive noted that Apple's massive purchasing scale gives it a distinct advantage over smaller competitors.
Chinese smartphone makers are in a weak position to secure more memory chips or negotiate prices.
The supply advantage influences Apple's broader market maneuvers, providing motivation to launch iPhones in spring and capture more market share.
Bloomberg reported that Apple is negotiating to source memory components for the Chinese market from domestic firms ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies.
Technical evidence of the device's impending arrival emerged in the recent iOS 27 beta codebase, which contains software parameters designated as "foldState" and "angleDegrees" alongside configurations for dual built-in displays.
