Foldable 'iPhone Ultra' May Launch Later in China, Says Leaker
Apple's foldable "iPhone Ultra" may launch in mainland China later than in some other markets, according to an oft-reliable Chinese leaker. Posting on the Weibo social media platform, Instant Digital said that Apple has a limited initial inventory for its first foldable device, and the rollout could be shaped by regional allocation. The claim follows a recent report out of Japan suggesting that…
According to a well-known Chinese source on Weibo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, codenamed Ultra, may debut in mainland China later than in other regions. The prediction stems from the fact that the company has a small initial stock of the device, and its release could depend on where production is allocated. This comes after a report from Japan claimed that Apple is having difficulty increasing daily production beyond a few hundred units due to its strict quality assurance measures.
Apple has reportedly placed orders for approximately 10 million units of the foldable phone for 2023, but the hinge and screen durability trials are reportedly taking longer than anticipated. The leaker's caution aligns with an earlier report from Australia, which suggested that the foldable iPhone could debut in a staggered fashion, beginning in the U.S. before spreading to other nations.
In contrast, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expressed surprise if the foldable iPhone does not release around the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro series or closely after them. He suggested that this launch could either coincide on the same date, occur in dual launch format, or be released within a week of the other devices. Gurman did not confirm the possibility of a staggered market-by-market rollout, similar to the launch of Apple's Vision Pro headset in 2024.
Written by urgent.news from MacRumors's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
