Apple has asked suppliers to prepare to make approximately 10 million foldable iPhones in 2026, up from an earlier forecast of 7 to 8 million units, according to a Nikkei Asia report cited by MacRumors and 9to5Mac. The foldable, expected to launch as the rumored iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, sits inside a broader 2026 iPhone production plan that now tops 220 million units. Apple has also asked some suppliers to reserve iPhone 17 components for the upcoming iPhone 18 lineup, the same report says. The 10 million-unit order marks a faster ramp than the 7 to 8 million figure Nikkei Asia reported earlier this year.
The earlier 7 to 8 million forecast came from supply-chain checks published earlier in 2026. The revised order arrives as the broader smartphone market wrestles with an industry-wide memory shortage that has already pushed rivals Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo to cut annual production targets below 100 million units each.
Why Apple Just Raised Its Foldable iPhone Target
Apple has not yet shipped a foldable phone, and the revised target signals a faster ramp than suppliers had prepared for. The 10 million-unit foldable iPhone order is well above the 7 to 8 million figure Nikkei Asia reported earlier, when supply-chain checks flagged engineering concerns around the device’s hinge. The new target also lands about two months ahead of the expected September 8 unveiling. The order is also a fresh data point for suppliers that have watched Apple’s foldable program for years.
The order is large enough to support a launch in dozens of countries from day one. Apple is also using the order, the report says, to lock in hinge, display, and component capacity for the first year.
The order is a buy, not a hedge, and it commits Apple to a foldable at scale in its first year on the market. The Nikkei report, cited by MacRumors, adds that Apple is moving aggressively to secure components amid ongoing memory and hinge supply tightness. Apple is keeping the iPhone 17 in production to extend the lineup, with the standard iPhone 18 not arriving until spring, per 9to5Mac.
The order is a step into a category Apple has watched from the sidelines for years. Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi have sold foldables since 2019, and Apple has held back, taking time to develop a hinge, display, and supply chain it could mass-produce.
The 220-Million-iPhone Production Plan for 2026
The foldable target is one slice of Apple’s broader 2026 iPhone plan. The 10M target and 220M production plan break down across the lineup as follows: roughly 70 million units of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the 10 million foldable, and the balance made up of the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone 17 that Apple is keeping on sale longer than usual.
Apple has also asked some suppliers to reserve iPhone 17 components for the iPhone 18 lineup, a sign it is moving aggressively to lock in parts amid the shortage. The reservation request is paired with the 10 million-unit foldable order, the report says.
The order is not yet final. Some suppliers have been told to expect up to 85 million new iPhone orders in the second half of 2026 alone, a ceiling that includes the 80 million already booked and reserves room for additional demand on top of the foldable. Separately, IDC has forecast that Apple will ship close to 240 million iPhones in 2026, a figure that sits above the 220 million production target. Apple sold an estimated 247 million iPhones in 2025, Firstpost notes, citing the report.
- 10 million foldable iPhone target for 2026, up from 7 to 8 million
- 80 million new iPhones booked for the second half of 2026 (iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, foldable)
- 220 million total iPhone production target for 2026
- 85 million maximum new iPhone orders in H2 2026, per some suppliers
- 240 million iPhone shipments IDC forecasts for Apple in 2026
How a Memory Shortage Is Reshuffling the Field
The memory shortage is the backdrop that makes Apple’s order stand out. Rivals Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have each cut annual production targets below 100 million units, while Apple’s purchasing power has kept its supply chain intact.
Apple’s first-year share of the foldable market is unusually high for a new entrant. The Nikkei Asia report, cited by Firstpost, estimates Apple’s foldable will account for 29% of foldable display orders in 2026, just behind Samsung’s projected 31% share and ahead of Huawei’s 24%. The 10 million-unit order is the production volume sized to that share.
Some suppliers, the report says, have redirected capacity from rivals that have pulled back. Apple’s 10 million-unit order is the only foldable commitment of 2026 from a new entrant in the top three, the report says.
Other brands, including Xiaomi and Oppo, have pulled back from foldables this year amid the memory shortage, the report says. The carryover from the iPhone 17 extends the lineup through 2026, the report adds.
- Samsung: 31% of 2026 foldable display orders
- Apple: 29% of 2026 foldable display orders
- Huawei: 24% of 2026 foldable display orders
What $2,500 Buys Inside the Foldable iPhone
IDC has predicted an average selling price of $2,500 for the foldable, with higher storage options priced as high as $3,000. The device is rumored to carry a 7.8-inch inner display paired with a 5.5-inch cover display, in a book-style design that opens flat like a small tablet.
Other rumored specifications include Touch ID in place of Face ID, an A20 chip, Apple’s C2 modem, and two rear cameras. The iPhone Fold entering production at Foxconn is also Apple’s first phone to use Touch ID on the power button. The A20 chip is the processor expected to power the iPhone 18 Pro as well, the report says. The book-style design is the same form factor as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line, the report notes.
- 7.8-inch inner display
- 5.5-inch cover display
- Touch ID on the power button (no Face ID)
- A20 chip
- Apple C2 modem
- Two rear cameras
The Hinge Problem Apple Reportedly Resolved
Engineering problems tied to the foldable iPhone’s hinge have been the cloud over the launch for months. The latest Nikkei report says the engineering problems now appear to have been resolved.
Nikkei Asia’s earlier supply-chain checks had flagged the hinge as the source of potential delays. Several reports had suggested initial shipments could be limited if the issue was not addressed before mass production began. The fix removes a key risk from the September launch window, the report says.
The resolution has its own cost. A small initial shipment is now more likely following the device’s launch, with a larger production run not beginning until closer to the end of the year.
Apple suppliers climbing on the September debut saw a similar pattern of cautious optimism earlier in 2026, when reports of a Bloomberg confirmation of the September launch sent shares of Asian suppliers higher. The updated supply-chain report adds a second data point that the launch is on track. The same source notes that the foldable will arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September.
The September 8 launch window would let Apple book early foldable sales into its fourth-quarter financial results, the same source adds. The same source also notes that the iPhone 18 Pro models and the foldable will both arrive in September.
Why a September 8 Debut Now Looks Likely
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has pegged September 8, 2026 as the most likely date for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone to be unveiled. Gurman hedged with September 9, since Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The Tuesday window fits Apple’s habit of holding fall iPhone events on the first Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day.
The foldable itself may arrive a few weeks after the iPhone 18 Pro models, 9to5Mac notes, but it is still expected to land in 2026. The September 8 launch date for Apple’s iPhones would also let Apple book early foldable sales into its fourth-quarter financial results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many foldable iPhones is Apple planning to make in 2026?
Apple has asked suppliers to prepare to make approximately 10 million foldable iPhones in 2026, up from an earlier forecast of 7 to 8 million units. The 10 million-unit order is the first confirmed foldable production volume Apple has placed with suppliers, according to the Nikkei Asia report.
What will the foldable iPhone cost?
IDC has predicted the foldable will carry an average selling price of $2,500, with higher storage options priced as high as $3,000. The MacRumors report, also citing IDC, notes that the device is widely expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 8.
When will the foldable iPhone be released?
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pegs September 8, 2026 as the most likely date for the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the foldable to be unveiled, with September 9 as a hedge. Gurman’s note does not specify a separate release date for the foldable, only an announcement window.
How does Apple’s foldable compare to Samsung’s?
The Nikkei report, cited by Firstpost, estimates Apple’s foldable will account for 29% of foldable display orders in 2026, just behind Samsung’s 31% and ahead of Huawei’s 24%. Apple is the only new entrant in the top three for foldable display orders in 2026.
What hinge problem nearly derailed the launch?
MacRumors reports that engineering problems tied to the foldable iPhone’s hinge appear to have been resolved. Nikkei Asia’s earlier supply-chain checks had flagged the hinge as the source of potential launch delays, and the same outlet is now reporting the fix.
