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Five days before its unveiling, production of the foldable iPhone is reportedly only reaching a few hundred units per day. This is attributed to Apple's own testing standards, not a technical defect. As a result, the commercial production launch has been delayed by several weeks.
Shortly before the Apple event on September 9th, the question of how many devices will actually be available on the day of sale is coming to the fore. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, which cites supplier sources, daily production at the end of August was a few hundred units. The newspaper had already reported on the order volumes of the device in July and is thus continuing its own reporting – which suggests consistency but does not constitute independent confirmation. The information comes from people identified by function, not by name.
This shifts the focus from the technology to the masses. Rumors surrounding the iPhone Ultra suggest a device that appears largely finished in terms of construction: displays qualified, hinge design finalized, software prepared. The remaining risk, until recently, lay in the timing – and that's precisely where the new report comes in.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Daily production was reportedly around a few hundred devices at the end of August.
- The reason is Apple's quality standards, not an unresolved technical error.
- An additional testing cycle was added in August.
- This has delayed commercial production by weeks.
- Apple and its suppliers are reportedly working around the clock to avoid empty warehouses.
What the report says about manufacturing
Output is increasing only slowly, according to sources close to the supply chain. At the end of August, it stood at a few hundred units per day – a volume that, in the opinion of those quoted, is unlikely to be sufficient to meet demand.
The report cites not an unresolved design problem as the cause, but rather Apple's testing standards. In August, the company scheduled an additional verification run to ensure that the device could even be mass-produced in the specified configuration. This step delayed the commercial production launch by several weeks.
Where the yield is stuck
Two details are specifically mentioned: the flatness of the surface and the behavior of the hinge. Apple is demanding better yields in both areas before ramping up mass production.
Neither of these issues is new. Back in July, hinge design and display durability were already considered the main bottlenecks in production. The difference lies in the nature of the problem: Back then, the question was whether the device could be manufactured at all. Now, the question is how many of the manufactured devices will meet Apple's standards.
How does this compare to the current situation?
The report contradicts a statement from early August, which said the production line was complete and any delays were no longer an issue. The two accounts are difficult to reconcile, and both rely on unnamed sources.
| Time | According to reports |
|---|---|
| Beginning of July | Order increased to around ten million units for the year |
| End of July | The hinge and display durability are considered the key bottlenecks. |
| Early August | Production line completed, delays averted. |
| Mid-August | Testing problems with already built devices, staggered market launch under discussion |
| End of August | Daily output at a few hundred units, commercial launch postponed by weeks |
The contradiction cannot be resolved, but it can be explained: A fully operational production line and an insufficient yield in quality control are not mutually exclusive. A line can be running and still produce too few devices that pass the testing process. The report from mid-August about testing problems and a staggered market launch fits this picture better than the all-clear given at the beginning of the month.
What the quantity means
The scale can be compared. Apple reportedly increased its order in July to around ten million units for this year. Ming-Chi Kuo most recently still expected seven to eight million devices to actually be shipped.
In contrast, a full month with several hundred devices per day results in a quantity in the high four- to low five-figure range. Compared to the annual order, this is less than one-thousandth. This calculation says nothing about future growth – it only shows how far the starting point is from the target and how sharply the curve would have to rise in the coming months.
The scarcity is the resilient part
Opinions differ regarding the order of the launch markets, and neither side can be verified. However, one point remains consistent throughout all reports of the past few months: the limited initial batch. The only new aspect is that a number now replaces the description.
If you want the iPhone Ultra on release day, the most important factor is when the pre-order phase begins. Everything else depends on distribution decisions, about which there is currently only conflicting information.
The report does contain a word of reassurance, however. The cited cause is Apple's own internal standard, not a defect that no one can control. Production runs can be ramped up, but a design flaw cannot be easily fixed.
Would you pre-order immediately on the release day if the first batch is as limited as described – or would such a tight starting supply be a reason for you to wait for the second generation? Let us know in the comments how you would decide in this situation.
