After months of conflicting delay rumors, two supply chain sources now say Apple's foldable iPhone is on track for a September launch, and one supplier has already started shipping components.
According to a China Securities Journal report cited by DigiTimes, an Apple supplier recently began delivering small batches of components for the company's first foldable device. The same supplier received guidance that the phone will be unveiled in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. A second supply-chain source told the publication it had received no indication of any delay and continues working toward a fall 2026 release.
The report contradicts a string of pessimistic predictions from earlier this year. Barclays predicted in March that the foldable iPhone would slip to December.
Nikkei Asia reported that engineering problems could push the device into early 2027. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the phone might be "a little bit delayed," suggesting an October launch rather than September. The device, referred to in reports as either iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, is believed to have entered manufacturing testing only in April.
Rumors of hinge durability issues and circuit board problems have circulated for weeks. But the new supply chain signals suggest those issues haven't derailed the timeline.
MacRumors reports the foldable is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, powered by the A20 chip with Apple's C2 modem. It will reportedly use a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID and carry two rear cameras.
Pricing is rumored around $2,000, though a March leaker claimed $2,325 for the 256GB model and nearly $3,000 for 1TB.
Apple has precedent for announcing before shipping. The original AirPods were announced in September 2016 but only reached customers in small quantities by December. The iPhone X was unveiled alongside the iPhone 8 in September 2017 but didn't ship until November.
Even if the foldable iPhone is announced in September, actual availability could lag by weeks or months. In a separate but related development, reports suggest Apple may hold the standard iPhone 18 until spring 2027, the first deviation from its September release cadence since the iPhone 4S in 2011. The Pro models and the foldable would launch this fall as usual.
