According to Mark Gurman, the foldable iPhone is unlikely to be ready to ship in September and is expected to begin shipping after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The specific shipping schedule remains undecided.
In a Q&A session, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman said the new foldable iPhone is unlikely to reach consumers in September, at around the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple may announce it at its September event, but shipping is expected to begin later, with no specific timing disclosed. The exact shipping date remains undecided.
Earlier this month, Tim Long of Barclays forecast that the foldable iPhone would not ship until December, pointing to an approximately three-month gap between the launch of the iPhone Fold and the shipment of the iPhone 18 Pro series. Apple has previously staggered product launches, and the prevailing view is that it is likely to announce 3 models simultaneously and begin sales once the foldable iPhone is ready to ship.
Against this backdrop, prominent analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has pointed out that the foldable iPhone may face short-term supply shortages because of production challenges, with supply constraints potentially continuing through 2027. Production issues are believed to be behind the shipping delay.
In conclusion, Apple executives may choose to announce 3 new products together at this year's event and bring the foldable iPhone to market once it is ready to ship. The September and year-end release plans may change depending on production conditions and demand for the new products.