Apple’s long-awaited folding iPhone is facing severe delays, according to an industry report.
The next-generation iPhone, which comes seven years after Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone, is expected to be unveiled in September, though supply chain issues could mean that most customers will not get hold of it until 2027.
Rumoured to be called the iPhone Ultra, it is expected to feature a 5.5-inch outside display and a 7.8-inch display when fully extended.
It will also reportedly come with a high price tag of between $2,300 and $2,500 (£1,700-£1,870), making it the most expensive iPhone on the market.
A new report by prominent industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests a lack of inventory means there will be a delay between Apple announcing the new phone and releasing it.
“From the perspective of its [third quarter inventory], the foldable iPhone is likely to repeat what happened with the iPhone X in 2017: it may be announced alongside the other new models, but with pre-orders and official sales both coming later,” he wrote.
“This means the foldable iPhone could sell out immediately after pre-orders open, with delivery lead times quickly stretching to four to six weeks or longer and remaining there through December.”
The iPhone Ultra is set to be unveiled at Apple’s annual product showcase in Cupertino, California, alongside the new range of iPhone 18 models.
A major leak last month appears to have revealed what the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro will look like, with photos, files and component lists shared on the dark web following a cyber attack on Apple supplier Tata Electronics.
The Independent has reached out to Apple for more information on the leaks and the reported delays, though the company typically does not comment on unreleased products.
The US tech giant has previously confirmed supply issues with its other devices due to a global memory chip shortage brought about by unprecedented demand for RAM from artificial intelligence companies.
It will be one of the first big tests of incoming CEO John Ternus, who takes over from Tim Cook this year at the helm of the $4.5 trillion company.
