Apple’s long-awaited iPhone Fold is supposed to debut next year, but could face supply shortages into 2027, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The Cupertino company will still announce the new device despite potential issues, he claims.
Kuo appeared on the Chinese MacroMicro podcast and expanded on multiple subjects from his conversation in a research note. That included thoughts on Google’s success with Gemini 3, the AI bubble and Apple’s forthcoming devices like the iPhone Fold.
Regarding the foldable phone, Kuo expects demand to be huge, but delayed production timelines mean there may not be enough devices to meet it.
“Development of the foldable iPhone is behind earlier expectations, but the product is still expected to announce in 2H26. Due to early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges, smooth shipments may not occur until 2027,” Kuo wrote. “With limited supply and expected strong demand, the foldable iPhone could be facing shortages until at least the end of 2026.”
Behind schedule
On the podcast, via a machine-translated transcription, Kuo said he believes this will be a similar situation as the iPhone X, the 10th anniversary iPhone that was announced, but sales didn’t start until later. He said that people may not get the iPhone Fold until the end of 2026 or 2027.
Kuo’s prediction mirrors a similar one from Mizuho Securities in October that predicted a delayed iPhone Fold launch, meaning it wouldn’t go on sale until 2027.
Kuo claims that development of the iPhone Fold is “behind earlier expectations” due to ramp-up challenges and a lack of early-stage yield. At one point, he predicted that Apple estimates shipping between 8 and 10 million devices next year, though this delay could revise those estimates.
Almost as an aside, Kuo mentions that he believes that once Apple gets in the game, foldables will be the last major smartphone evolution “before smart glasses with displays can replace” them.
Price and some specs
The iPhone Fold is expected to be a book-style phone with an approximately 5.5-inch exterior screen and a 7.8-inch inner display with the same screen ratio as the iPad. Reportedly, it will use liquid metal hinges to achieve an industry-first crease-free display. Unfortunately, it might be the most expensive iPhone ever, with rumors placing the price between $2,300 and $2,500.
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