Apple’s foldable iPhone Ultra could be sold in the U.S. first, with a staggered country-by-country rollout over several months, according to an Australian publication reporting conversations with local carriers and a major retailer. The report says the device will be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models but will not be available at launch outside the U.S.
iPhone Ultra staggered launch reportedly due to supply and pricing issues
Sources told the publication that Apple plans to release the book-style foldable first in the U.S., then in key markets including China over two or three months. The staggered timetable is said to stem from supply setbacks and “pricing problems,” and the report adds that Apple is experiencing testing issues with production models that have already been built. The sources characterized the device as a “no show” when the iPhone 18 Pro models ship in September despite a joint unveiling.
Manufacturing limits, prior announcements and production figures
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said Apple would unveil its first foldable at the same event as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but that iPhone Ultra pre-orders would begin later than the Pro models. Kuo has attributed the delay to manufacturing challenges limiting early production. Multiple reports have identified the hinge structure and display durability testing as principal bottlenecks, though trial production at Foxconn was later reported to have resolved some issues and prompted Apple to increase its order to around 10 million units for the year, up from 7–8 million, according to Nikkei Asia.
That 10 million figure is roughly one third of Kuo’s forecast of 20–22 million units for iPhone 18 Pro models this year. Kuo still expects suppliers to ship only 7–8 million foldable iPhones in 2026, and at that scale Apple would likely struggle to stock more than 40 countries on day one.
Vision Pro precedent and what’s still unconfirmed
A staggered country rollout would mirror Apple’s approach with the Vision Pro, which launched in the U.S. in February 2024 and reached additional markets months later because of low production volumes, retail readiness and the product representing a new category for the company. The report’s claim remains uncorroborated, however; other accounts have noted production progress, and Apple has not confirmed a staggered market launch.
Expected technical details in circulation include an inner display around 7.7 to 7.8 inches, a 5.5-inch cover screen, a thickness of roughly 4.5mm and a starting price above $2,000. The iPhone event is widely expected to occur on Tuesday, September 8 or Wednesday, September 9.
