When veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo speaks, markets listen. This is because Hong Kong-based Kuo is located in the middle of Apple’s supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region. He knows all the vendors, and sees that Apple moves whenever there’s a new iPhone in the works, usually on the money.
In a new interview, Kuo said that the iPhone Fold — Apple’s first smartphone with a foldable display — is real, and will be coming next year. But he also warns that the company is having a hard time building them fast enough to meet the huge potential demand. (It’s probably huge because… come on. Foldable. iPhone.)
“The development of the foldable iPhone is lagging behind previous expectations, but the product is still expected to be announced” in the second half of 2026, Kuo wrote in his article. Interview summary. “Due to early production and increasing challenges, shipments may not occur smoothly until 2027. With limited supply and expected strong demand, the foldable iPhone may face shortages until at least the end of 2026.”
Apple is said to be working on 7 new iPhones. That’s all we know.
Translation: The iPhone-making machine in Kuo’s part of the world, which the Cupertino company still relies on, doesn’t work fast enough and doesn’t have enough materials. Therefore, many customers will find that they cannot get the first item on their Christmas lists in 2026.
Speed of light mashable
This means we’re looking at another iPhone 14 Pro/Max situation. This was where – as Kuo predicted at the time – many customers found it unavailable in the Apple Store until 2023, despite an October 2022 launch.
This isn’t the only reason you might be disappointed with the iPhone Fold. The other reason: its price.
Another analyst in the region estimated the potential cost at $2,399, higher than other analysts’ estimates. You can get at least two MacBook Air laptops at that price (and maybe even three with an M4 chip at current prices).
This may be too much for many consumers, especially if the economy is going through a downturn after the AI bubble. That means lower demand, which in turn means that if you really want to get rid of all that iPhone Fold scratching, you might have a chance to get one in time to take candid photos with its cameras (two on the front, two on the back, according to rumours) on New Year’s Eve 2026.