The foldable iPhone (tentative name: iPhone Ultra) is expected to be announced along with the iPhone 18 Pro series at an event to be held from 2:00 a.m. on September 10, 2026 Japan time, but there are multiple rumors surrounding the release date.
The latest reports indicate that it is likely to be released in some countries and regions, including the United States, in September, but initial stock numbers are expected to be extremely small.
Multiple rumors on iPhone Ultra release date
The main predictions that have been reported so far regarding the release date of iPhone Ultra are as follows.
- It will be released about 6 weeks later than the iPhone 18 Pro series.
- It will be released in advance only in the United States, and will be released sequentially in other countries and regions by the end of the year.
- Although it will be released at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro series, initial stock numbers are low.
The latest article from 9to5Mac, which is approaching the event, states that, based on multiple recent pieces of information, the iPhone Ultra is likely to be released in September.
However, sales areas and supply quantities may be quite limited, and it is not confirmed that it will be released at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro series in all countries and regions.
Initial inventory is expected to be extremely low
Regarding the iPhone Ultra, there has been information for some time that supply will be “extremely limited” at the time of release.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects shipments in the third quarter of 2026 to be around 500,000 to 1 million units, which is significantly lower than the estimated 20 million to 22 million units for iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max during the same period.
It has been pointed out that if demand concentrates at this scale of supply, the expected delivery date may be extended to “5 to 6 weeks or more” from the time reservations begin.
If you want to get it on the release date, it will be important to decide on the specifications you want to purchase in advance so that you can complete your order immediately after pre-orders begin.
Do you have an Apple Store app ready?
At the Apple Online Store, you may be able to select the model, storage capacity, body color, etc. and save it to your “Favorites” before accepting reservations for the new iPhone.
If a similar mechanism can be used this time, it would be possible to shorten the ordering process by deciding which model to purchase after the official specifications and prices are announced at the event and before reservations begin.
If you want to get it on release day, you may need to complete your order within 2 minutes of pre-ordering.
Japan is also expected to be among the initial release countries.
A recent article from 9to5Mac states that the iPhone Ultra is likely to be released in September, but it may be rolled out in “very limited regions and quantities.”
For Apple Vision Pro, after the first release in the US, Japan has been selected as the second release region along with mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Therefore, if it is released simultaneously in several countries in addition to the United States, we can expect Japan to be included.
Expected schedule from announcement to release
The following schedule is currently expected for the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro series.
- Announcement date: Event from 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026
- Reservation acceptance start date and time: 4pm on Saturday, September 12th is likely
- iPhone18 Pro series release date: September 18th (Friday)
- iPhone Ultra release date: September is likely, but sales areas and number of supplies may be limited
It is currently unclear whether the iPhone Ultra will be released on September 18th, the same day as the iPhone 18 Pro series, or whether it will be released in the second half of September with a delay of several days or weeks.
However, rather than the expectation that the release would be delayed by several months, there has recently been a growing expectation that sales will begin in September.
Source: 9to5Mac
Photo: Apple Cycle (@theapplecycle)/X
Source: iPhone Mania
