iPhone Fold will get a September launch with sales later on

Apple may be pulling an iPhone X for the iPhone Fold, by launching it in September but actually selling it months later.

Apple is widely expected to launch the iPhone Fold this fall, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. However, the schedule of when it goes on sale could be completely different.

According to a Sunday X post by TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the supply chain indicates there may not be enough inventory for the iPhone Fold to go on sale immediately after launch.

In his view, it seems that the iPhone Fold could repeat what happened in 2017 for the iPhone X.

Back then, the milestone model was introduced as usual alongside the other main releases, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. But preorders began late in October, with sales in early November.

To Kuo, the supply chain has a target of producing about 7 to 8 million iPhone Fold units in the second half of 2026. But for the third quarter, there will apparently only be a production run of between half a million and a million units.

By comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will get about 20 million units produced.

Evidently, the supply chain is spelling out a similar launch pattern for the iPhone Fold as for the iPhone X.

Production history repeating itself

One of the reasons for the delay back with the iPhone X was production issues. Something followers of the iPhone Fold will be familiar with, too.

Back in 2017, the production of the iPhone X was at a similarly low 1 million units for the third quarter. This was due to the model introducing many new features that earlier models didn’t have, that the supply chain had to account for.

That included the OLED all-screen design as well as Face ID biometric security.

The iPhone Fold, naturally, has similar new-tech issues to deal with. That includes the folding display, as well as the well-documented rumors about the problematic hinge.

Ming-Chi Kuo has a documented history of accuracy when it comes to Apple, in part due to his in-depth supply chain checks. While we have dealt with rumors and claims about the iPhone Fold being delayed in the past, Kuo’s reports are generally considered to be closer to reality than the rest of the rumor mill.