Apple is producing only a few hundred foldable iPhones a day ahead of its expected Sept. 9 unveiling, far below the tens of thousands needed for an initial launch, Nikkei Asia reported, citing supply chain sources.. The slow ramp-up reflects Apple’s quality requirements for the device, including stricter targets for surface flatness and hinge performance than rival foldables, the report said..
Supply chain sources cited by Nikkei Asia said Apple added an extra round of trial production in August before moving into full mass production because of quality concerns. Those checks included testing under harsher conditions, more fold cycles and tighter screen flatness standards, the report said..
Apple’s foldable iPhone program has faced development problems for months. Reuters reported in April that the project had become more complex and was taking longer to resolve than Apple expected.. In May, leaker Fixed Focus Digital said the device had yield failures tied to surface-mount technology during pre-assembly.
By August, the same leaker said those issues had been overcome and the phone remained on track for a September launch.. Forbes reported that Apple is likely to announce the foldable iPhone on Sept. 9 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with sales potentially starting on Sept.
18. The report said availability could be very limited.. Supply chain sources warned that if Apple cannot speed up production, inventory could be short when sales begin..
The device is expected to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8, which Samsung unveiled on July 22. Samsung’s phone starts at $1,899 and has a 7.6-inch inner display.. Apple’s foldable iPhone is rumored to have a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, with a starting price above $2,000..
Analysts cited in the source material said Apple’s strengths in foldables include its iPad app ecosystem, in-house chips and AI model integration in iOS 27, which would let users choose between ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini through Siri. Analysts also projected foldable smartphone category growth of 12.6% this year..
Featured image credit. Tags: Applefoldable
