According to a new report from the Korean outlet The Elec, Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra, is set to begin mass production at the end of July. Despite recent speculation about potential delays due to hinge-related problems, sources indicate that Apple is still targeting a September launch as planned.
Mass Production Starts in July
The Elec report, cited by MacRumors, confirms that mass production for the device will commence in late July. Korean sources say Apple has overcome early challenges with the hinge mechanism, one of the most critical components for a foldable phone. Durability tests involving millions of folds had revealed slight noise from the hinge and wider-than-expected manufacturing tolerances, leading to higher defect rates. However, according to a Taiwan-based industry source, most of these issues have now been resolved.
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Display and Technical Specifications
The iPhone Ultra will feature a 7.8-inch foldable OLED panel supplied by Samsung. The display uses a new design that eliminates one of the traditional screen layers, building the color-filtering layer directly into the display stack, making it thinner, lighter, and more power-efficient. In addition to the main screen, the device is expected to have a 5.5-inch cover display, Apple's A20 chip, C2 modem, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and two rear cameras. The price is rumored to be around $2,000.
Mark Gurman's Statements
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in March that the foldable iPhone would not ship in the same September timeframe as the iPhone 18 Pro models. A month later, Gurman stated that the device remained on track for a September debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series, with sales starting around the same time or slightly later. However, he noted that "the release is six months away and production has yet to ramp up" and that "the timing isn't final."
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Hinge Suppliers and Challenges
The hinge will be supplied by Taiwan's Shin Zu Shing and U.S.-based Amphenol, both using 3D-printing techniques. The challenges encountered during testing have been addressed, allowing production to proceed as scheduled.
Market Implications
With the iPhone Ultra, Apple officially enters the foldable market, currently dominated by Samsung and Huawei. The choice of a book-style design and a premium price tag could reshape industry expectations. For those following AI and multi-agent systems, it's interesting to note that even in hardware, complexity demands cutting-edge solutions, much like frameworks such as AutoGen and CrewAI, which handle complex automation with total control. Another example of technical reliability is LlamaIndex Data Framework for LLMs, ensuring data integrity. For more on driver assistance litigation, see the lawsuit against Tesla.
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Industry sources indicate that the September launch remains the target, with availability possibly in late September or early October. The initial report from The Elec provides the foundation for these claims.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/24/foldable-iphone-ultra-set-for-production-july
