Report: Foldable iPhone Daily Production Only Hundreds of Units Initially
Apple's anticipated foldable iPhone, potentially named iPhone Ultra, had an initial daily production of only "a few hundred units" by the end of August due to stringent quality demands. Production ramp-up is slow, risking missed targets.
Apple's highly anticipated foldable iPhone, possibly to be branded iPhone Ultra, is reportedly facing significant production challenges, with daily output limited to just "a few hundred units" as of the end of August. This constraint stems from Apple's exceptionally rigorous quality control standards.
A supply chain source indicated that Apple's quality requirements are "extremely high," leading to an additional pilot production run in August. Despite this, the ramp-up in production volume has been slow. The initial output is unlikely to meet the expected market demand for the new device.
Apple had previously set ambitious production targets, aiming for 8 to 10 million foldable iPhones this year, a volume typically requiring tens of thousands of units manufactured daily. If production speeds do not accelerate, the company may struggle to meet these annual goals, potentially leading to longer delivery times for consumers.
Development and pre-production phases for the foldable iPhone have encountered issues. Apple is known for its demanding quality and durability standards, subjecting devices to more extreme testing and requiring more fold cycles and greater screen flatness than competitors. Added verification steps in August have reportedly delayed commercial production by several weeks, potentially resulting in initial stock shortages.