Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled in September, but it won't be available everywhere immediately. An Australian report suggests an initial launch only in the US, with other markets to follow two to three months later. Ironically, the model for this is a product that customers in German-speaking countries have had to wait an especially long time for.
The unveiling of the iPhone Ultra is considered a done deal; Apple's event is expected around September 8th or 9th. Much of the technical information about the device has now been gathered – the only remaining question is when it will actually be available for purchase.
A report from Australia now presents a claim that contradicts the current understanding. While not reliably substantiated, it fits a pattern that Apple has already used with another product.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The iPhone Ultra is expected to be unveiled in September, but initially only sold in the USA.
- Further markets, including China, are expected to follow over the next two to three months.
- The reasons given are supply bottlenecks, price issues, and testing problems with already manufactured devices.
- The source cites Australian network operators and a retailer, but none of this has been confirmed.
- Using the comparable approach of Vision Pro, it took five months to reach Germany.
What the report claims
According to an exclusive report from ChannelNews, the foldable iPhone will be absent from the iPhone 18 Pro models at their September launch, even though it will be unveiled alongside them. Apple reportedly intends to initially offer the device in the US and only roll it out to other key markets over a period of two to three months.
Sources cite supply chain issues and pricing problems as the reasons. Additionally, there are said to be difficulties with testing already produced units.
The information comes from local network operators and a major retailer. For Australia, this would mean a waiting period of several months.
How reliable is the information?
ChannelNews is an Australian trade publication that sources its information not from the supply chain, but from retailers. Such sources often know delivery quantities and dates for their own market early on, but rarely have insight into Apple's global planning.
Independent confirmation is still lacking. The fact that Apple only provides limited information to retailers and network operators before a keynote also suggests that the report should be read as market observation and not as confirmed product planning.
However, his assessment partially aligns with that of Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst had already stated in July that pre-orders for the foldable model were likely to start later than for the iPhone 18 Pro series. However, he made no mention of a staggered release by country.
Two reports, two pictures from the production process
The new report contradicts what was said at the beginning of August. At that time, it was stated that the production line was completed and any delays were no longer an issue. Now, there are reports of testing problems with devices that have already been manufactured.
The two cannot be reconciled, and both sides rely on unnamed sources. The earlier reports came from the manufacturing sector, the new one from the retail sector – it is possible that a functioning production line and problems in quality control exist side by side.
The question of quantity is undisputed. Apple is said to have increased its order to around ten million units for this year, while Kuo still expects only seven to eight million devices to be shipped. For a global launch in over 40 countries, that would be a small number in either case.
What the Vision Pro example shows
Apple has used this approach before. The Vision Pro was initially launched in the US only in February 2024, with other countries following in waves.
| Market | Available from |
|---|---|
| USA | February 2024 |
| China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore | June 2024 |
| Germany, France, Great Britain, Australia, Canada | July 12, 2024 |
| Austria, Switzerland | No official sales until autumn 2025 |
The reasons at the time were low production volumes, the preparation of retail stores, and the fact that it was a completely new product category. All three points could be applied to a foldable iPhone.
Why Austria and Switzerland are in a different situation
The Vision Pro experience is not uniform across German-speaking countries. Germany was part of the second wave and received the device five months after its US launch. Austria and Switzerland were still not on the list of official sales countries a year and a half later.
Here, the usual calculation is reversed. With regulatory restrictions, Switzerland is generally in a more favorable position because it is neither a member of the EU nor the EEA, and regulations like the Digital Markets Act do not apply there. However, with a staggered sales launch, market size is the deciding factor – and in this respect, both countries rank behind Germany.
Whether this can be applied to an iPhone is unclear. A phone is sold through network operators, not through a handful of stores with fitting appointments, and Apple has an established distribution network in both countries, which it never built for the Vision Pro.
How likely a staggered implementation really is
We expect that Germany, Austria, and Switzerland would be included in the first or second wave if Apple does indeed stagger the release. The reason lies in the stated production numbers: seven to eight million devices are too many for a niche product to sell in a single country, and Apple already has the approvals, network operator contracts, and retail locations in Europe that were lacking for the Vision Pro.
A delay of a few weeks between presentation and sale seems more likely to us than a staggered release over months – and this point has been under discussion for some time anyway.
It remains to be seen how much patience the German-speaking market will have for such a device. Would you wait for a foldable iPhone if it only becomes available here weeks after the US – or would a later release date be a deal-breaker for you? Let us know in the comments. (Image: Apple)
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