- Fresh supply chain information suggests Apple's foldable iPhone is still on track for a September debut, despite recent delay rumors.
- Apple's manufacturing partners are reportedly running at full production capacity, suggesting development is progressing without any changes.
- While the iPhone Ultra launch time appears unchanged, limited first-batch inventory could leave many buyers waiting several weeks for delivery after pre-orders open.
For the past few days, there has been a lot of talk that Apple might push back its first foldable iPhone. That story spread quickly, but the latest update from Apple’s supply chain tells a different story. Accordingly to a new report from Chinese outlet Cailian News Agency, companies involved in making parts for Apple’s upcoming foldables are currently working at full production.
More importantly, suppliers say the launch schedule hasn’t changed. Right now, the iPhone Ultra launch time is still expected to line up with Apple’s usual September event. That doesn’t mean everyone will get one right away, though. More on that in a bit.
Apple iPhone Ultra launch remains on track
The delay rumors weren’t pulled out of nowhere. Earlier this month, analysts said Apple would only produce around 500,000 to one million units during the early production stage. Those numbers are much lower than what people normally expect from a new iPhone launch.
That was enough for many people to assume Apple had delayed the phone. But low production doesn’t automatically mean a delayed announcement. It can simply mean Apple is taking a careful approach with a completely new product. That’s what the latest supply chain update seems to support.
Buying one might be the hard part
If you’re planning to pick up Apple’s first foldable on day one, you may need to be quick; well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has already said that early supply is likely to be tight. If demand turns out to be as high as expected, shipping estimates could stretch by four to six weeks once the first batch sells out.
That wouldn’t really be unusual. Apple has seen similar situations with new product categories before. Foldable phones are also more difficult to manufacture than standard smartphones, so slower production at the beginning isn’t surprising.
What this report leads us
At this point, the latest information suggests the iPhone Ultra launch time is still on schedule for September. The bigger question isn’t when Apple will announce it. It’s whether there will be enough units for everyone who wants one. Overall, if you’re already thinking about buying, keeping an eye on pre-order dates is probably a better idea than worrying about launch delays.
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