Apple Ramps Up Foldable iPhone Ultra Production Target to 10 Million Units by 2026

Apple has instructed its suppliers to boost production volumes for its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Ultra, banking on strong demand and the success of the new form factor. The company has already notified manufacturers that it is ready to increase output to 10 million devices by the end of 2026. Just a few months ago, Apple was planning to produce 7–8 million foldable iPhones, but this revised outlook signals that the company has grown more confident in the product.

Recently, Apple managed to resolve key technical issues with the hinge design—one of the most complex and vulnerable components in such devices. The company is entering the foldable smartphone market later than its competitors, and by this time, display and hinge suppliers have already gained valuable experience and refined their technologies.

Mass production of the foldable model is set to begin closer to the end of 2026. The iPhone Ultra is expected to be unveiled in fall 2026, alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the base iPhone 18 won't debut until spring 2027.

For the second half of 2026, Apple has placed orders for components totaling 80 million devices, which include the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone Ultra. The company's total annual iPhone output for 2026 is expected to exceed 220 million units, despite an ongoing memory shortage in the market. Unlike Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo—which have scaled back their plans to below 100 million smartphones per company—Apple continues to maintain high production targets.

The foldable iPhone Ultra is set to become the most expensive smartphone in Apple's history. The company is aiming to capture a significant share of the foldable smartphone market within its first year of sales. Currently, in global markets, Samsung leads this segment with its Galaxy Z series, while Huawei dominates in China.

Apple is going all-in on mass production of the foldable iPhone Ultra right from the start, rather than treating it as a limited-run experiment. Would you consider picking one up if Apple truly ends up changing the game in the foldable market?