Apple Foldable iPhone May Be Delayed to Early 2027

What started as a sure thing is suddenly less certain. Rumors that Apple would unveil its long-anticipated foldable alongside the iPhone 18 Pro this September are running into fresh friction from the supply chain.

Largan Precision, a major lens supplier, recently signaled that customer schedules are shifting: some new products expected in the third quarter may now land in early next year. Industry analysts reading the same tea leaves say that the comment likely points to Apple’s foldable project, variously referred to as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra.

That does not rule out a September appearance. Apple has a habit of teasing hardware before it ships. Remember the iPhone X: announced with the iPhone 8 family and then released weeks later. The company could still present the foldable as a coming-soon device at its autumn event and follow with a later launch window.

Supply-chain chatter now suggests a roll-out in early 2027 rather than a full launch this fall.

There’s another wrinkle. Apple seems to be splitting its iPhone 18 cycle into stages. Expect the Pro models, and perhaps an Ultra variant, to headline the September keynote. The standard iPhone 18 lineup, a rumored 18e and a possible iPhone Air, are slated for a spring 2027 announcement. Staggered releases would explain why some pieces of the roadmap look rushed while others slip.

For the broader market, a delay dampens the idea that Apple would vault into the top three foldable vendors in 2026. Analysts still predict a meaningful debut when the device ships; one consensus estimate pegs first-year shipments around 11 million units. That would be significant, but not immediate domination.

Apple likes control. Timing is part of that. If the company postpones the foldable to polish hardware and secure supply, customers may grumble now but buyers and rivals will take the product seriously when it finally folds into view.