Apple’s iPhone Ultra might not be available everywhere at launch, as the company races against time to make enough of its first-generation foldable phone to satisfy the anticipated demand.
According to a report from an Australian site, Apple will only release the handset in the United States at launch and it’ll be months before iPhone Ultra availability expands beyond the US border. Even then, it’ll be markets like China getting second dibs. The report does not mention whether the UK could be part of that second release wave, but the Aussies apparently are not.
The ChannelNews report brings word from mobile carriers and retailers down under claiming the long-awaited iPhone Ultra will be a “no show” when other devices in the iPhone 18 range arrive.
Furthermore, a supply chain company has purportedly informed the site that Apple has endured supply setbacks as well as “testing issues with production models that have already been built.” The sources added that there were “more issues than expected” during production verification tests – specifically pertaining to the hinge.
The report says the device has yet to go into mass production, which would leave wide availability at launch in serious doubt. The company’s target for 2026 has reportedly bene between seven to ten million.
It begs the question of whether fans will even see the iPhone Ultra outside of the United States before 2027 rolls around. Apple is no stranger to staggered geographical releases – it did so with the iPad and the Vision Pro – but I can’t recall the last time it happened with an iPhone.
Apple is still expected to reveal the iPhone Ultra around a month from now at its next special event, alongside the usual crop of iPhone and iPhone Pro models. This year, the announcement of pricing will be as important as the feature set, with iPhone 18 Pro models expected to cost up to $300 more due to the RAM and storage crisis.
New Apple Watch models are also expected at the event. It’s possible the company reveals the first devices in its planned smart home expansion, which could include the ‘HomePad’ smart display. Look for an announcement soon pertaining to the second week of September.
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