·
Apple
plans to launch at least five new iPhone models between the second half of 2026 and the first half
of 2027.
·
The
company has increased its
foldable iPhone production target to about 10 million units for
2026, up from an earlier estimate of 7–8
million units.
·
Ahead
of launching its first-ever
foldable iPhone, Apple has already secured components for
approximately 80 million
smartphones scheduled for release in the second half of 2026.
·
Apple's
total smartphone
production for 2026 is expected to exceed 220 million units.
·
Despite
an industry-wide shortage of memory chips driven by AI-related demand, Apple
has maintained a stronger supply position due to its scale and purchasing
power.
·
Chinese
smartphone makers such as Xiaomi,
Oppo, and Vivo have reportedly reduced their annual production
targets to below 100
million units because of component shortages.
·
Suppliers
indicate that Apple's
stronger bargaining power enables it to secure memory chips
more effectively than its competitors.
·
Apple
is reportedly considering spring
iPhone launches to capitalize on supply advantages and expand
its market share.
·
The
global memory chip
shortage, fuelled by demand from AI data centres, has
significantly increased component costs across the consumer electronics
industry.
·
Apple
is reportedly in discussions with Chinese memory chip manufacturers ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT)
and Yangtze Memory
Technologies (YMTC) to source memory for devices sold in China.
·
Both
Chinese firms are included on a U.S.
Pentagon list of companies alleged to support China's military,
although Apple has not confirmed the reported negotiations.
·
Apple
aims to diversify its
supplier base to reduce supply-chain risks amid ongoing memory
shortages.
·
According
to reports, Apple plans to launch at least two additional iPhone models in the first half of 2027,
including the standard
iPhone 18 and a new
iPhone Air.
·
The
expanded product roadmap follows recent
price increases for MacBook and iPad models, driven by rising
memory and storage costs.
·
Apple
has not officially commented on the reported production plans or supplier
negotiations.
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 production plans for foldable
devices, as it looks to vie for a greater slice of the market amid an industrywide
component supply shortage, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday (02.07.2026).
The
U.S. tech giant has instructed suppliers to prepare to produce about 10 million
foldable iPhones this year, up from an earlier forecast of 7 million to 8 million
units, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Ahead
of launching its first-ever foldable device, Apple has already secured components
for about 80 million smartphones spread across new models for the second half of
2026.
Apple’s
total smartphone production for 2026 is expected to exceed 220 million units, the
report said. Its scale and purchasing power in sourcing memory and components remain
significantly stronger than most of its peers, even as shortages driven by AI-related
demand ripple through the industry.
This
has allowed Apple to navigate supply shortages better than Chinese rivals such as
Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, which have each slashed their annual production targets
to below 100 million units.
“Compared
with Apple’s bargaining power, the Chinese smartphone makers are in a weak spot
in terms of getting more supplies of memory chips or increasing the prices,” an
executive at a supplier for both Apple and Xiaomi said. “It gives Apple a good motivation
to launch the iPhones in spring and take more of their share.”
Apple’s
efforts to secure components come as a global memory shortage driven by demand from
artificial intelligence data centers pushes up costs across
the industry.
Bloomberg
reported Thursday that Apple is in talks to source memory chips for devices sold
in China from Chinese manufacturers ChangXin Memory Technologies
and Yangtze Memory Technologies, both of which are included on a Pentagon list of
companies alleged to support Beijing’s military. Apple has not confirmed the discussions,
and Bloomberg reported that negotiations remain ongoing.
Apple
is reportedly seeking to broaden its supplier base as memory shortages strain production
across the consumer electronics sector.
Apple
plans to introduce at least two new iPhones in the first half of 2027, including
the standard iPhone 18 and a new iPhone Air, according to Nikkei Asia.
The
aggressive product roadmap comes after Apple implemented price hikes for its MacBook
and iPad lineups last week as memory and storage costs surged.
Apple
did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.