Apple Plans Foldable iPhone and Ultra Model by Mid-2027
Apple targets 10M foldable iPhone units and a premium Ultra model as it expands its lineup and diversifies chip suppliers.
Apple is preparing one of its most ambitious iPhone expansions in years, with at least five new models slated to launch between the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027, according to reports. The Cupertino-based tech giant is gearing up for its debut foldable iPhone, targeting production of approximately 10 million units — a cautious but significant opening bet on a form factor that Samsung and other rivals have pursued for years.
At the premium end of the lineup, Apple plans to introduce an iPhone Ultra model, positioning it above the existing Pro Max tier. The move signals Apple's intent to capture high-spending consumers willing to pay top dollar for its most advanced hardware, echoing a strategy the company has already deployed with its Apple Watch Ultra line.
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To fuel the production ramp, Apple faces a critical supply chain challenge: memory chip availability. The company is reportedly turning to Chinese suppliers to ease those constraints — a decision that carries considerable political and reputational risk, as those suppliers are reportedly on a Pentagon blacklist. The pivot underscores how Apple is weighing its hardware ambitions against geopolitical headwinds that have intensified amid ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions.
The dual launch of a foldable and an Ultra model in the same product cycle would represent a rare simultaneous push into two distinct market segments — affordability-adjacent innovation and ultra-premium pricing — and will test Apple's supply chain management and marketing muscle in equal measure. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether consumer demand for foldables materializes at the scale Apple is betting on.
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