Apple is preparing to release the "iPhone Ultra" in stages, with the U.S. market receiving the device before other markets.
Apple could be on the verge of finally unveiling its long-rumored foldable iPhone at its September event. The device, which Apple is allegedly calling the iPhone Ultra internally, has been rumored for years.
While the company is expected to reveal the product during the event, there's a good chance that certain markets will have to wait longer than others. The U.S. will get the device first, with additional markets receiving the phone in rollouts over the next few months.
Allegedly, the delay is "primarily down to supply and pricing issues," an unnamed Chinese component supplier told Channel News. It also added, "We believe the Company is also having testing issues with production models that have already been built."
It's not impossible that supply chain constraints are an issue. Current reports suggest that the base model iPhone 18 will not release alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September, but instead launch the following spring.
Our skepticism lies in the second part of the statement, which claims that the foldable is facing testing issues. A recent report suggested that the iPhone Ultra had faced some initial issues, but has since resolved them.
Australian carriers have also confirmed that the device would not be available alongside the iPhone 18, according to Channel News .
Not-so-uncharted waters
This wouldn't be the first time that Apple's done a staggered rollout for a new product. The Apple Vision Pro famously launched first in the US before rolling out to other countries weeks later.
That delay came from a low production rate, which isn't surprising. The Apple Vision Pro is a fairly complex device to manufacture.
Similarly, the iPhone Ultra would be Apple's first foldable, and its new form factor may require smaller orders to begin with. Current numbers place the device at 10 million orders, up from the previous 7 million or 8 million mentioned prior.
Yet, despite the "low" order numbers, Apple is apparently banking on it being a success. A report has suggested that Apple is already working on a third-generation iPhone it could release in 2028.
