Foldable iPhone Production Lags Behind Expectations

Apple's mass production of its first foldable iPhone is lagging behind expectations. According to Nikkei Asia, as of late August, the average daily output was only a few hundred units, far below the level required for large-scale commercial shipments. Apple and its supply chain partners are accelerating capacity expansion, but if the subsequent ramp-up speed still falls short of expectations, the foldable iPhone may face supply tightness in the initial stages of launch.

The market had previously expected Apple to produce around 8 million to 10 million foldable iPhones this year. However, industry insiders pointed out that to achieve this goal, factories would normally need to produce tens of thousands of units per day. The current daily output of a few hundred units presents a significant gap.

Apple has very strict quality standards for the new form-factor product, adding an extra round of trial production and validation before entering formal production in August. This affected the tempo of mass production.