Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone Ultra might not be having the smoothest journey behind the scenes. According to a new supply chain leak, the company is reportedly running into production issues ahead of the device’s expected launch next year.
The latest claims come from Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, who says that Apple is reportedly struggling to improve manufacturing yields during the foldable iPhone’s pre-assembly process. More specifically, the issue is apparently linked to something called surface-mount technology (SMT) – the stage where electronic components get attached to circuit boards during production.
That probably sounds deeply unexciting unless you work in electronics manufacturing, but poor yields can become a major headache when you’re trying to mass-produce a complicated new device at scale.
Interestingly, the leak claims the problems aren’t related to the foldable hinge itself. That’s notable because another leaker, Instant Digital, recently suggested that Apple was struggling to get the hinge mechanism to consistently meet its quality standards during repeated folding tests.
At the moment, though, most reports still suggest that the launch remains on track. Reports from both Mark Gurman and DigiTimes continue to point towards Apple unveiling the foldable alongside the iPhone 18 range in September 2026, even if production appears to be running slightly behind schedule.
If true, it shouldn’t put you off too much. Foldable phones are already mechanically complicated enough for companies like Samsung and Huawei, both of which have been making them for years. Apple arriving late to the category with the iPhone Ultra almost guarantees an obsession with tolerances, durability, and manufacturing consistency that borders on excessive. And unlike some Android foldables that still feel a little experimental around the edges, Apple will almost certainly want its first attempt to feel established and reliable from day one.
Current rumours suggest the foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch inner display along with a 5.5-inch outer screen, plus Apple’s upcoming A20 chip and C2 modem. It’s also rumoured to ditch Face ID in favour of a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the power button – a move that would make sense given the space constraints inside foldable hardware.
Pricing, unsurprisingly, could be pretty eye-watering. Current estimates point to a launch price somewhere around $2000, which would easily make it one of the most expensive iPhones Apple has ever released.
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