Apple has begun mass production of its foldable iPhone Ultra, with shipments expected to start in September [1].
The move signals Apple's official entry into the foldable smartphone market. By resolving previous design and hinge issues, the company aims to compete with established foldable devices while maintaining its typical hardware release cycle.
Supply chain sources indicate that the device's design was locked in some time ago, Cailian Press said [2]. This production phase follows a period of technical refinement. Android Headlines said Apple just cleared the last big hurdle for the iPhone Ultra [3].
Manufacturing is centered in China, where Foxconn is handling assembly and Samsung is providing the displays [4]. Reports suggest the initial inventory for the China market will reach one million units [5].
Some industry observers had previously suggested the project might face setbacks. However, 9to5Mac said more supply chain sources have rejected claims of delays to iPhone Ultra production [6]. The current trajectory aligns the foldable launch with the traditional autumn hardware window.
The coordination between Foxconn and Samsung underscores the scale of the rollout. Apple's decision to move into mass production suggests the company is confident in the durability of the folding mechanism, a critical point of failure for many foldable competitors.
As the September launch window approaches, the focus shifts from engineering to logistics. The one million unit initial stock for China [5] indicates a targeted initial rollout strategy before a wider global release.
“‘the device’s design was locked in some time ago’”
Apple's entry into the foldable market is a strategic pivot to capture the high-end 'ultra' segment of the smartphone market. By waiting until the technology matured enough to avoid the hinge failures seen in early foldable iterations, Apple is attempting to disrupt the category through reliability rather than being first to market. The scale of initial production suggests a significant bet on consumer appetite for larger, foldable screens in the premium tier.
