Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra may repeat the iPhone X launch playbook

Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September, but preorders may not open until October or later, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo compares the situation to the iPhone X launch in 2017, when Apple announced the device at the same event as the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus but held off preorders for six weeks due to limited supply. He expects the foldable, rumored to be called iPhone Ultra, to follow the same pattern, with production constraints pushing availability into the fourth quarter.

The starting price in the US is estimated at $2,299 to $2,499. Despite that, Kuo expects strong demand once preorders open, with shipping times potentially stretching to four to six weeks or beyond.

Apple's suppliers are expected to ship around 7 to 8 million foldable units in 2026, compared with a combined 20 to 22 million projected for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.