CUPERTINO, Sept. 3 — Apple is widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at its “Surprise and Shine” event on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, with the device possibly carrying the name iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold. The launch event, scheduled for 6pm in the UK, is also expected to feature the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Yet for communities across the region watching closely, the bigger question may be when the foldable actually reaches their hands.
Analysts have offered conflicting timelines. Reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Barclays analyst Tim Long, Nikkei Asia, and DigiTimes have all pointed to different windows, with some predicting pre-orders or shipments slipping to late October or December 2026, or even into 2027.
A familiar wait
The pattern echoes Apple’s iPhone X strategy from 2017. That device was unveiled on 12 September 2017, but pre-orders did not open until 27 October — six weeks after pre-orders for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Rumours of a foldable iPhone have circulated for years.
In January 2021, Gurman reported Apple had begun early work on the device and was testing prototype foldable displays. That same year, Kuo speculated a launch as early as 2024, later revising to 2026.
By late 2025, Gurman suggested Apple would move to a spread-out launch window from September 2026. In March 2026, Tim Long claimed the iPhone Fold would launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September but not be released until December. A Nikkei Asia report in early April cited engineering test setbacks that could delay the phone into 2027, though Gurman said on 7 April it was on track to launch that month.
A late July DigiTimes report said Foxconn, Apple’s primary manufacturing partner, faced setbacks in mass manufacturing related to the folding screen’s durability and hinge. Then, on 2 August, Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital reported those issues were resolved and the iPhone Ultra was not delayed.
What to expect
Production estimates vary. Kuo said Apple would make 8 million units at launch, which would be the entire supply for the rest of the year, while Nikkei Asia reported Apple increased production to 10 million for the rest of 2026. Evidence of the device has been building.
On 9 June, Bloomberg discovered code in the first developer beta for iOS 27 that could determine whether a device was folded or unfolded, referencing different folding states and angle degrees. Bloomberg also reported an updated Apple service utility mentions a secondary display, a second cover glass, and two additional light sensors.
At WWDC’s State of the Union keynote, Apple showed “app adaptability” to help developers design apps for various screen sizes and aspect ratios — a giveaway tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee highlighted. The device is expected to resemble the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, feature a near crease-free design, rounded bezels, and an iPad mini-like inner display. Its price remains uncertain, with rumours suggesting it could be expensive.
All eyes now turn to 9 September for the official announcement — and to whatever release window Apple ultimately commits to.
