Apple has reportedly told suppliers to prepare for 10% more orders for the iPhone 18 range, as it expects the iPhone Fold to see high demand.
The new iPhone 17 range is selling well — and breaking records in China — plus the range has been highly praised by critics. Yet a new report claims that Apple is expecting considerably better from its 2026 launch, particularly the expected iPhone Fol.
According to Nikkei Asia, Apple has been briefing suppliers and also looking for new production options to speed up the introduction of the iPhone Fold. Reportedly, multiple sources say that Apple is predicting a 10% increase across all iPhone sales in 2026.
That does include the iPhone 17 range, and it means Apple expects to sell a total of over 240 million iPhone across the whole of 2026. But it's said to be telling suppliers to expect to make 95 million of the next lineup, the iPhone 18 range.
Apple is said to believe that the iPhone Fold will generate huge demand — and that this will also lift the other models. The idea is that the attention given to the iPhone Fold will get more people to look at the whole range, and then buy whichever model that suits them best.
Nikkei Asia says that Apple gave an initial production projection of 85 million for the iPhone 17 range, and a total of 220 million for all iPhones in 2025. But the supply sources caution that Apple's estimates can be too high.
"Sometimes Apple gives a much higher projection just in case to account for some challenges in electronics component supplies or possible production quality issues when building a new category of products," said the unspecified source. "But we do expect at least some 5% overall growth from this year should be achievable."
Introducing the iPhone Fold
As part of the discussions with suppliers, Apple is said to be specifically looking to have what's being described as a "mini pilot line" for the iPhone Fold. According to three sources, Apple is looking at land in Taiwan, and wants to have an operation there that will fine-tune the manufacturing process for the foldable phone.
Once that has been completed, the intention is to replicate the final process for mass production in India. This would reportedly mean that Apple could shorten the time needed to finish development of the new design, and also make for a smoother start to production.
"Equipment [imports from China] has been an issue in India for a long time now," said one of the sources. "Apple has to cultivate more local Indian suppliers as well as bring in new tool suppliers from Taiwan, which it is doing both."
Two of the sources said that Apple is considering establishing the pilot in a northern Taiwanese city. However, they also say that Taiwan has a labor shortage, and such a pilot line would need around a thousand employees.
Apple has not commented on the report. The company also refuses to be drawn on whether it is even considering making an iPhone Fold.
Alongside multiple patents and patent applications regarding folding devices, though, Apple has been reported to be planning major redesigns for the iPhone from 2025 to 2027. With the iPhone Air being released in 2025, the expectation is that 2026 may see the iPhone Fold.
