Apple plans to unveil the iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series this September, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports the foldable won't reach pre-order immediately. Manufacturing hurdles push shipments to the fourth quarter of 2026, creating a gap between announcement and availability that the standard Pro models won't face.

Despite a rumored $2,300 to $2,500 price tag, Kuo expects the device to sell out instantly. Limited launch supply could drive scalper markups of 50 to 100 percent above retail. The analyst projects Apple will ship 7-8 million units by year-end, though a separate supply-chain report suggests the company has raised its 2026 target to roughly 10 million.

The foldable packs a 7.76-inch inner display, a 5.49-inch cover screen, the new A20 Pro chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a 5,500mAh battery. Those specs position it as a productivity-focused hybrid rather than a pure phone replacement.

The delayed, constrained launch signals Apple is still refining yield rates on its first folding display. For buyers, the realistic path to ownership means either camping pre-orders or paying scalper premiums — a familiar dynamic that could repeat with every new form factor Apple introduces.