Apple’s Foldable iPhone May Skip India at Launch, Report Claims
Apple looks set to unveil its long-rumoured foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 lineup next month, but not everyone’s going to get their hands on it right away. A fresh report suggests the rollout could be far more limited than a typical iPhone launch, with several markets – India possibly among them – left waiting.
The device is expected to make its debut at Apple’s September 8 event in the US, but according to ChannelNews, a mix of supply constraints, pricing complications and lingering production issues could keep it out of many countries at launch.
The report cites a major Chinese component supplier who says the holdup comes down mainly to supply and pricing troubles. That same supplier claims Apple is still running into testing problems with units that have already rolled off the production line. Apparently, Australian carriers and at least one major retailer have already been given the heads-up that the Apple Fold simply won’t be on shelves when the iPhone 18 series launches. Instead, limited stock is expected to land in the US first, with markets like China following afterward.
Apple Fold could carry a premium price
Price could be another major hurdle for Apple’s foldable debut. The company is reportedly not planning to reveal the device’s price during the September launch event. The foldable iPhone is expected to cost considerably more than Apple’s existing iPhone models. The report claims Australian pricing could be as much as $700 higher than Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 8. The high cost of specialised components could contribute to the premium pricing. The report also claims Apple’s designers have expressed concerns about the device’s design after examining the quality of Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone.
Production remains a challenge
Apple has reportedly been developing a foldable iPhone for several years, but preparing the device for mass production appears to have proved difficult. According to the report, suppliers say Apple has encountered “more issues than expected” during production testing. The hinge mechanism and foldable display are reportedly among the biggest challenges.
Originally, mass production was supposedly slated to begin back in June 2026. That slipped to early August, and now it’s apparently been pushed back again. As recently as late July, Foxconn was still reportedly fine-tuning its production plans, and people close to the matter say engineering validation alone could add another two-month delay.
On top of that, Apple is said to be targeting around seven million foldable units for the back half of 2026. If that number holds, it’s a fairly modest supply to stretch across a global launch – which helps explain why some countries may simply have to wait their turn.
All signs point to Apple treating this launch differently than usual. Rather than pushing the Fold out worldwide right after the reveal, the company appears to be leaning toward a staggered release – US first, everyone else later.