Ming-Chi Kuo: Foldable iPhone may repeat the iPhone X script, launching later and in tight supply until the end of the year.

Mars Finance News reported that on July 5, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a post that the foldable iPhone could repeat the iPhone X playbook—being launched alongside other models, but with pre-order and official release dates delayed, and supply constraints that may continue until the end of 2026. Based on the inventory buildup for the third quarter of 2026, the foldable iPhone is likely to resemble the 2017 iPhone X. That year, the iPhone X was released alongside the iPhone 8 / 8 Plus on September 12, but due to insufficient inventory, its pre-order and official release dates were pushed back to October 27 and November 3, respectively. Since the foldable iPhone’s shipments in the third quarter are limited, pre-orders and the official launch may not open until the fourth quarter of 2026 as well.

Kuo said that after communicating with telecom operators, sales channels, and resellers / importers, he believes that even if the foldable iPhone’s price is as high as about $2,300 to $2,500, the level of demand enthusiasm will still likely last at least through the end of 2026. This means that after pre-orders open, the foldable iPhone may sell out quickly, and the wait time for shipments could rapidly extend to 4 to 6 weeks or even longer, continuing into December. He believes that the foldable iPhone’s limited initial supply, high visual recognizability, and an innovative user experience could drive up short-term resale prices. If the resale price is 50% to 100% higher than the official price, that is also not impossible.