iPhone Ultra Could Launch Only in the U.S. at First [Report]

Apple's first foldable iPhone could be announced in September but initially launch only in the U.S., leaving Australia and other markets waiting several months, according to a ChannelNews report.



Apple's book-style foldable, which employees reportedly refer to internally as the iPhone Ultra, is still expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. ChannelNews says Australian carriers and a major retailer have confirmed that the device will not be available locally when the iPhone 18 lineup goes on sale. Instead, the limited initial supply will reportedly be reserved for the U.S. before availability expands to key markets, including China. Australia could receive the device as much as three months after its U.S. launch.


The report attributes the limited rollout to a combination of supply constraints, testing setbacks, and pricing considerations. An unnamed Chinese component supplier said the rollout is "primarily down to supply and pricing issues," adding, "we believe the Company is also having testing issues with production models that have already been built." In Australia, the foldable iPhone is expected to cost up to $700 more than the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Fold 8, which JB Hi-Fi sells for $2,999.

Apple's production schedule has also reportedly slipped several times. According to the publication, suppliers originally targeted mass production for June 2026 before postponing it to early August and then delaying it again. The hinge and foldable display are said to be the main sticking points, with Foxconn reportedly still adjusting its mass production plans as recently as late July. Apple is expected to produce roughly seven million units during the second half of 2026, which could limit how widely the device is distributed at launch.

ChannelNews' account partly aligns with recent supply chain reporting. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also predicted launch delays and severe shortages, while another report suggested Apple could announce the device in September but begin shipments later. However, the claim that the hinge remains a key production bottleneck appears to conflict with earlier checks indicating that hinge issues had largely been resolved. None of those reports specifically corroborates the claim that Apple will initially limit availability to the U.S. before expanding to other markets.

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