Apple's Foldable 'iPhone Ultra' to Debut Alongside Pro Models With Staggered Rollout, Analyst Says

Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone, reportedly dubbed the 'iPhone Ultra,' will likely be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max but ship later, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo as reported by MacRumors. Kuo's prediction suggests a strategic repeat of Apple's 2017 playbook, where the iPhone 8 and the landmark iPhone X were announced together but the X faced delayed availability.

MacRumors'iPhone Ultra' Likely to 'Repeat the iPhone X Story'

Kuo cited ongoing manufacturing challenges as the reason for the staggered pre-order timeline, with early production of the foldable device still limited, MacRumors reported. The analyst noted that these hurdles have forced Apple to separate the announcement from the actual launch window, a move that echoes the company's approach with the original iPhone X.

"repeat the iPhone X story"

The phrase captures Kuo's belief that Apple will manage consumer expectations by announcing the foldable alongside the standard Pro models, then opening pre-orders weeks later, according to MacRumors. This mirrors the 2017 strategy, where the iPhone X was revealed at the same event as the iPhone 8 but didn't ship until November, while the 8 models went on sale in September.

"This mirrors the 2017 iPhone X launch strategy where the iPhone 8 and iPhone X were announced together but the X shipped later."

Kuo's track record on Apple supply chain predictions gives weight to the forecast, though Apple has not confirmed any plans for a foldable device, according to MacRumors. If the timeline holds, the iPhone Ultra would mark Apple's first entry into the foldable market, arriving alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in a carefully orchestrated rollout designed to build hype while overcoming production bottlenecks.