Foldable iPhone Launch Could Mirror iPhone X Rollout
In a post on X over the weekend, Kuo said his latest supply-chain checks indicate assembly shipments of Apple’s first foldable iPhone will total roughly 7 million to 8 million units in the second half of 2026.
Third-quarter shipments are expected to reach only 500,000 to 1 million units, far below the estimated 20 million to 22 million iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units being assembled during the same period.
Because of those limited volumes, Kuo believes Apple may follow a strategy similar to the one it used for the iPhone X in 2017. While the foldable device could be unveiled alongside other iPhone 18 models, preorders and retail availability may come weeks later.
“The foldable iPhone is highly similar to the iPhone X in this regard: both use an innovative user experience as a key selling point, while manufacturing challenges limit early production,” Kuo wrote.
