Apple raises foldable iPhone Ultra production target to 10 million units

Apple has instructed its suppliers to prepare for the production of roughly 10 million foldable iPhone Ultra devices, up from earlier forecasts of 7-8 million, according to sources familiar with the matter. The adjustment was reported by Nikkei Asia and reflects a higher build target for the first foldable iPhone expected to debut in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

In addition to the foldable model, Apple is slated to order another 70 million units of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, bringing the total new-model orders for the second half of 2026 to about 85 million. Combined with the foldable count, the company’s total iPhone orders for the year would reach roughly 220 million, close to IDC’s forecast of 240 million shipments for 2026.

Analysts estimate the iPhone Ultra could carry an average selling price of about $2,500, with higher-storage variants priced near $3,000. Apple is also expected to keep the current iPhone 17 line in the market until spring 2026, extending its typical 12-month cycle to around 18 months, and to refresh the iPhone Air model introduced in September 2025 during the same spring window.

"Apple has given some suppliers a forecast of up to 85 million new iPhones for the second half of 2026 and asked them to reserve common components used in the iPhone 17 series for the upcoming iPhone 18 premium series," the report said.