iPhone Fold may not go on sale right after launch, analyst suggests

The iPhone Fold will reportedly cost between $2,300 and $2,500, while delivery times may stretch to 4-6 weeks.

iPhone Fold is one of the most anticipated devices of the year and is expected to launch this September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series. However, if you're planning to buy one after launch, the bad news is that you might have to wait until the end of the year to get your hands on Apple's first foldable iPhone.

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a recent post on X that the iPhone Fold will have a limited supply after launch, with Apple planning to ship roughly 8 million units in the second half of the year.

Kuo added that roughly 1 million units of the iPhone Fold will hit the shelves in the third quarter. In comparison, up to 22 million units of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available to buyers during the same period.

It seems that Apple is repeating its iPhone X playbook with the iPhone Fold, meaning the device will be unveiled in September, but pre-orders and sales will start later. Kuo says the foldable iPhone may not be available for pre-orders or officially go on sale until Q4 2026, and delivery times could be four to six weeks or even longer.

Kuo suggests that the iPhone Fold's limited supply after launch stems from its innovative features, which make it more challenging to manufacture. Previous reports have hinted at a crease-free display for Apple's first foldable iPhone, while more recent reports say Apple is struggling with the device's hinge design.

At a price between $2,300 and $2,500, Kuo expects the iPhone Fold to sell out immediately after launch. However, the best time to assess the true demand for Apple's first foldable will be in late 2026 or the first quarter of 2027, when production challenges and supply chain constraints are expected to ease, and the initial excitement surrounding the device has settled.

Apple has recently raised the prices of iPad and Mac models, though iPhones have not yet been affected. However, CEO Tim Cook has already said price hikes are unavoidable, and the iPhones due to be unveiled this September, including the foldable iPhone, may not be immune.

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Posted Monday 6 July 2026 at 6:17 pm AEST (my time).

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