The launch of Apple’s most expensive phone could be delayed by months due to reported problems in the engineering testing phase for the iPhone Fold. This could potentially mean that it won’t go on sale until next year.
Multiple sources have been cited, with suppliers warning that they may need to delay production of components for the new device…
iPhone Fold launch schedule
We already heard that Apple plans to launch the iPhone Fold sometime after the iPhone 18 Pro. Last year, a Barclays analyst suggested that it was likely to launch in December instead of September along with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.
This certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented. We first saw this pattern with the iPhone X in 2017, and it was repeated with the iPhone XR and iPhone 14 Plus.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman later supported this view, saying that there was “no doubt” about the launch offset.
Launch may be further delayed due to engineering problems
New one Nikkei Asia Reports today say that Apple has faced setbacks during the engineering testing phase of the iPhone Fold.
According to multiple sources briefed on the matter, the issues surrounding the engineering development of foldable iPhones are more complex and are taking longer to resolve than Apple expected, and in a worst-case scenario the first shipments could be delayed by months.
The issue arose partly from the notification given to component suppliers that their production schedules could be pushed back, but nikki Apparent sources inside Apple are also cited.
“It is true that more issues have emerged than expected during the initial test production phase, and additional time will be required to resolve them and make necessary adjustments. …The current situation could jeopardize the mass production timeline,” said one of the people familiar with the matter.
9to5Mac’s take
There’s a possibility that this is simply fresh reporting on a previously expected delayed launch schedule. In other words, Barclays and bloomberg Received information about the expected program and nikki Learned more about it.
However, it makes sense that Apple would have always planned for later launches of new models to maximize manufacturing capacity for both the Pro model and the iPhone Fold. If that is indeed the case, this report seems to suggest a possible delay in that orderly launch plan.
Since Barclays had already anticipated that the iPhone Fold would launch in December, the company is unable to immediately resolve any delays, which could easily push the launch to next year.



