According to the most recent industry analysis, foldable iPhones are anticipated to commence assembly and shipping in the latter half of 2026, with an initial production run of 7 to 8 million units. This includes an estimated 500,000 to 1 million units slated for the third quarter, constituting roughly 10% of the total. Concurrently, the projected total shipments for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models are expected to soar to 20-22 million units during the same timeframe, significantly outpacing those of the foldable iPhones and already fulfilling the inventory needs for their official September launch. Drawing parallels to the release strategy employed for the iPhone X in 2017, it appears that foldable iPhones, based on the inventory preparations for the third quarter of 2026, might follow a similar path. This implies that while they could be unveiled alongside other models, their pre-order availability and official market release could be postponed.