Apple told suppliers to prepare 10 million units of its first foldable iPhone for 2026, a 30% jump over the 7 to 8 million it ordered earlier this year, according to Nikkei Asia. The revised target signals that Apple has resolved the hinge and circuit board manufacturing problems that cast doubt on a September launch.
The production increase is notable for a first-generation device. In April, most analysts pegged Apple's foldable orders at 7 million to 8 million for the year.
Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station claimed 11 million. Nikkei now reports Apple has settled on 10 million for the rest of 2026 and into early 2027, essentially splitting the difference.
Apple's confidence in the foldable, expected to be called iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold, suggests it has worked through earlier manufacturing issues. Reports from earlier this year described hinge-related problems that briefly threatened the launch timeline.
Committing to a higher volume indicates production is now stable enough to support it. The iPhone Ultra is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at Apple's fall event in September.
Leaks describe a book-style foldable with a 7.8-inch inner OLED display and a 5.5-inch cover screen, powered by Apple's A20 chip. The device will reportedly use a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button instead of Face ID.
Nikkei adds that Apple has told some suppliers to expect up to 85 million total new iPhone orders across the second half of 2026, pushing projected full-year orders to around 220 million units. That compares to roughly 247 million iPhones sold in 2025.
The foldable will account for an estimated 29% of all folding display orders in 2026, according to the report. Samsung's share is projected at 31%, with Huawei at 24%.
There is one catch: price. Leaks suggest the iPhone Ultra will start at around $2,500, with higher-storage options potentially reaching $3,000.
That puts it well above the top-end iPhone 18 Pro Max and competing foldables from Samsung. For a device priced closer to a MacBook than a Pro Max, Apple will need to deliver more than the rumored dual-camera setup without a dedicated telephoto sensor and Touch ID in place of Face ID.
