Apple reportedly ramps up foldable iPhone production

Nikkei Asia added that Apple has secured enough key components to manufacture approximately 80 million iPhones for launch, covering both the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and the foldable iPhone. Total iPhone production for the year is reportedly projected to reach around 220 million units.

Despite the higher production target, early adopters may still struggle to get their hands on the foldable iPhone. Nikkei Asia cautions that initial supply is likely to remain constrained since mass production is expected to ramp up only towards the end of the year.

While previous reports cited manufacturing challenges and design refinements, Bloomberg recently claimed Apple remains on schedule to unveil the foldable iPhone in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

Leaked dummy units have offered the clearest look yet at Apple’s foldable ambitions. Rather than following the tall and narrow form factor adopted by most book-style foldables today, Apple is said to be opting for a noticeably wider design. The device is rumoured to feature a 5.5-inch cover display, a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display, an ultra-thin chassis measuring between 4.5mm and 4.8mm when unfolded, and Touch ID integrated into the power button instead of Face ID.

The foldable iPhone is also expected to command a premium price. With IDC recently estimating that Apple could raise iPhone 18 Pro prices by as much as US$200 due to rising component costs, the foldable model is likely to sit even higher in the lineup. Earlier reports suggested a starting price of over S$3,000, and that estimate may prove conservative given the ongoing global memory chip shortage and broader supply chain pressures.

Source: Nikkei Asia via MacRumors