Apple’s foldable iPhone Ultra was being produced at only a few hundred units per day in late August, according to Nikkei Asia, citing supply chain sources familiar with the production.
With Apple’s September 9 unveiling just days away, that raises questions about how many phones Apple will have ready when sales begin.
“Production is ramping up slowly, with output currently at only a few hundred units a day in late August. That initial volume could be challenging to meet market demand,” a supply chain manager told the publication.
Apple and its manufacturing partners are reportedly working to increase production and avoid shortages at distribution centers ahead of the launch.
Production ran into another hurdle
Apple conducted an additional quality-verification process in August to ensure the phone could be produced at scale without compromising its design.
The hinge mechanism and display flatness were among the areas that required higher production yields, according to the sources. The extra testing pushed commercial production back by several weeks.
Those same areas had reportedly caused problems earlier in the year. Apple and Foxconn were believed to have worked through the hinge and display durability issues during trial production, giving Apple enough confidence to increase its annual order from roughly 7 million to 8 million units to around 10 million.
The latest delay suggests moving from trial production to full-scale manufacturing has been harder than expected.
Launch-day supply could be tight
For anyone planning to buy the iPhone Ultra at launch, the production numbers aren’t encouraging. An earlier report also indicated that Apple could use a staggered international rollout, with the United States getting the phone before other markets.
The phone is expected to start somewhere between $2,099 and $2,299, which already puts it well above Apple’s existing iPhone lineup. Limited production could make the first few weeks particularly difficult for buyers trying to get one at launch.
Apple is still expected to unveil the iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its “Surprise and shine” event on Wednesday, September 9.
The bigger question will come after the announcement: how quickly can Apple move from a few hundred phones a day to enough units to keep up with launch demand?
