Apple has asked its suppliers to prepare to make around 10 million foldable iPhones this year, up from a previous forecast of around 7 to 8 million units a few months ago, reports Nikkei Asia ($).
Apple has already reserved parts for around 80 million smartphones for the second half of 2026, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the first-ever foldable iPhone. The company’s total production in 2026 is expected to exceed 220 million units, according to the publication.
Apple’s purchasing power would have left it in a better position than rivals like Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo, which have each slashed their annual production targets below 100 million units amid an industry-wide memory shortage.
Some suppliers have reportedly been told to expect orders of up to 85 million new iPhones in the second half of 2026, with Apple asking them to reserve iPhone 17 components for the upcoming iPhone 18 lineup.
Technical issues with the foldable iPhone’s hinge appear to have been resolved, but that has increased the chances of a small initial shipment after the device’s launch. Larger-scale production will likely only begin towards the end of the year.
Apple raised prices for MacBooks and iPads last month in response to rising component costs, but the iPhone 17 line has so far been spared a price hike. If this remains the case, Apple will likely use new device launches to introduce higher prices across the range.
Apple’s foldable iPhone is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch interior display and a 5.5-inch cover display, as well as Touch ID instead of Face ID, an A20 chip, and Apple’s C2 modem. The device is expected to release alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Apple’s book-style foldable could launch under the name ‘iPhone Ultra’, as reports suggest.
