Apple orders 10m units of its first foldable iPhone
Apple is showing great confidence in its entry into the foldable device market by raising the production target for its first foldable smartphone to around 10 million units. This upward revision compared to earlier estimates of 7-8 million suggests that the company expects considerable demand, even though the device’s retail price is expected to exceed €2,000.
According to Nikkei Asia, this foldable model – which may be called the iPhone Ultra – will be part of a broader strategy for 2026. That strategy also includes 70 million units of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Taken together, this contributes to an annual production target of around 220 million devices.
To reduce ongoing component shortages, Apple has instructed suppliers to maintain a stock of common parts that will be used in both the iPhone 17 and 18 series. The new hardware is expected to be introduced by Apple at the event in September, with the foldable version to follow shortly after the Pro series.
The price of the iPhone Ultra could reach €2,600 for versions with high storage capacity, making it the most expensive smartphone the company has ever released. Because of different tax calculations in Europe, it is difficult to predict what the asking price will be in Belgium.
As far as the hardware is concerned, rumour has it that the device will have a book-style folding mechanism, with a main screen of 7.8″ and a cover screen of 5.5″. To address the common issue of creasing in the display, Apple plans to use special ultra-thin glass and a redesigned hinge.
The technical specifications will likely include 12GB of RAM, storage options up to 1TB, and a battery with a capacity of 5,000 to 5,500 mAh. Notably, the phone may replace Face ID with a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button and use a dual 48MP rear camera without a telephoto lens.
To optimise the user experience for the larger screen, Apple is adapting iOS 27 with advanced multitasking capabilities and AI-driven enhancements. This software evolution is intended to distinguish the foldable phone experience from that of standard iPhone models.
Despite these ambitions, the market reception remains uncertain. A survey by PhoneArena showed that only 4.85% of participants would like to purchase the iPhone Ultra, while the majority prefer the Pro and Pro Max models. However, industry experts suggest that this hesitation may stem from a general reluctance to buy first-generation technology at a high price, rather than from a dislike of the product itself.
By entering a market currently dominated by Samsung, Honor and Huawei, Apple is betting that the seamless integration of hardware and software will ultimately win over the luxury foldable device segment.
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