Apple's foldable "iPhone Ultra" may launch in mainland China later than in some other markets, according to an oft-reliable Chinese leaker. Posting on the Weibo social media platform, Instant Digital said that Apple has a limited initial inventory for its first foldable device, and the rollout could be shaped by regional allocation. The claim follows a recent report out of Japan suggesting that Apple was struggling to produce more than a few hundred units a day in late August because of the company's stringent quality control standards.

Apple has reportedly ordered around 10 million units of the foldable for this year, but hinge and display durability tests are said to be taking longer than expected. The leaker's warning today also echoes an earlier report out of Australia, which suggested that the foldable iPhone could face a staggered country-by-country launch over several months, with initial availability limited to the U.S. market. On the other hand, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he would be "very surprised" if the foldable iPhone does not come out at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro models or "very close" to them. "Either on the same launch date, a dual launch, or coming out within weeks later," he said in an interview with Tom's Guide. "This idea of a late October, November launch, massive delays, supply chain issues, I don't believe to be the case," he added.

To the best of our knowledge, Gurman has not commented on the claim that the device could see a staggered market-by-market launch, similar to the Vision Pro in 2024. We should know more about Apple's launch plans for the foldable iPhone on Wednesday, September 9, when the company is expected to unveil the device alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. Stay tuned to MacRumors for all the latest news and updates.