According to people familiar with the matter, Apple plans to launch at least five new iPhone models between the second half of this year and the first half of 2027, while increasing the production of foldable devices in order to seize a larger market share amid industry parts supply shortages. Sources said Apple has instructed suppliers to prepare to produce about 10 million foldable iPhones this year, higher than the previous forecast of 7 million to 8 million units.
It is reported that before launching its first foldable device, Apple has stockpiled components for about 80 million smartphones for new models launched in the second half of 2026.
Apple's total smartphone production in 2026 is expected to exceed 220 million units. Even as shortages caused by AI-related demand ripple across the industry, Apple still has the scale and purchasing power to procure memory and components far beyond most rivals.
Apple's efforts to secure parts come amid a global memory shortage, driven largely by demand for artificial intelligence data centers that are driving up costs across the industry.
Earlier reports said Apple was in talks with China's two major memory chip manufacturers, Changxin Memory and Yangtze Memory, hoping to purchase memory chips for its devices sold in China. Apple has not confirmed this, with reports saying talks are still ongoing.
Apple is reportedly looking to expand its supplier base as memory shortages put pressure on production in the consumer electronics industry.
Sources say Apple plans to launch at least two new iPhone models in the first half of 2027, including the standard iPhone 18 and the new iPhone Air.
This comes after Apple last week raised prices on its MacBook and iPad product lines due to soaring memory and storage costs. Following this, Apple laid out this ambitious product roadmap.