Apple foldable phone may be impossible to buy? Supply shortage expected right after launch [IT item of the day]

[Financial News] Apple’s foldable phone, tentatively called the "iPhone Ultra," which is expected to be unveiled this fall, may face a supply shortage immediately after launch.
On the 8th, IT outlet Engadget cited a report by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and said production of the iPhone Ultra is expected to remain at just 500,000 to 1 million units right after launch. Production is then expected to gradually stabilize, with total shipments reaching 7 million to 8 million units by the end of 2026.
The report said the new foldable design could create manufacturing challenges, slowing early production. It also noted that the device could face a situation similar to the iPhone X, whose initial production was delayed as Apple introduced new technologies such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) full-screen design, a notch, and TrueDepth Face ID.
The price is expected to reach as much as $2,500, or about 3.81 million won. According to the report, the iPhone Ultra could sell out immediately after preorders begin, and the waiting time for delivery could stretch to more than six weeks even through December. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said, "A combination of early supply shortages, a new design, and an innovative user experience could give the device a premium in the secondary market in the short term."
Based on information available so far, the device is expected to feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display. The inner screen is expected to be slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini. It is also said to use a flexible OLED display with a laser-machined metal support plate, which would help disperse stress on the screen and make the crease nearly invisible.
The names currently used for Apple’s foldable phone, "iPhone Ultra" and "iPhone Fold," are both tentative, and the final product name may be different.

kaya@fnnews.com Choi Hye-rim Reporter