Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo hints foldable iPhone ‘is likely to repeat what happened with the iPhone X in 2017’

Apple’s foldable iPhone may be hit with the same launch-day delays and shortages that plagued the revolutionary iPhone X nearly a decade ago, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed.

Citing a new supply chain survey, he said that while Apple may unveil the foldable device alongside its standard lineup in late 2026, buyers will likely have to wait weeks or even months to actually get their hands on one.

‘A familiar technology-related supply crunch’

The analyst says that the data indicates that Apple is facing manufacturing hurdles, mimicking the production struggles of 2017. Back then, the iPhone X faced massive delays because of OLED all-screen design and Face ID camera system were difficult to mass-produce.Due to the complex nature of building a folding screen, assembly shipments for the foldable iPhone in the third quarter of 2026 are expected to be under 1 million units, which is claimed to be a fraction of the 20 to 22 million units Apple is prepping for the standard iPhone 18 Pro lineup.Due to this inventory shortage, Apple is expected to follow its 2017 playbook: announce the foldable phone in September, but delay pre-orders and official shipping dates until later in the final quarter of the year.

Apple foldable iPhone may have $2,500 price tag and high demand

Despite a rumoured price tag of $2,300 to $2,500, consumer demand is expected to be through the roof. Citing to discussions with mobile carriers, retail channels, and resellers, Kuo says that the foldable iPhone will likely sell out the exact moment pre-orders open. Shipping wait times are predicted to quickly skyrocket to six weeks or longer, lasting well through the holiday shopping season.While the original iPhone X supply crunch eased up by late November 2017, the foldable iPhone will be far more exclusive, Kuo said, adding that total shipments for the second half of 2026 are projected to cap out at just 7 to 8 million units worldwide. This lower number is driven by both the premium price tag and the difficulty of manufacturing the folding hardware.