Apple is planning an unusually aggressive iPhone roadmap that could see at least five new models launched between the second half of 2026 and early 2027, as the company steps up efforts to defend its dominance in a tightening global smartphone market, according to reports.
Citing Nikkei Asia, CNBC reported that the U.S. tech giant has lined up a multi-stage rollout of devices extending into 2027, alongside a major push into foldable smartphones and new sourcing strategies for critical components.
The plan reportedly includes preparations for Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone, with suppliers instructed to ramp up production capacity to around 10 million units this year, up from earlier estimates of 7 million to 8 million units. The device marks Apple’s long-anticipated entry into a segment already led by rivals such as Samsung.
The company is also said to have secured components for roughly 80 million smartphones covering new models expected in the second half of 2026, underscoring its scale advantage in locking down supply during a period of tight global component availability.
Overall iPhone production in 2026 is projected to exceed 220 million units, according to the report, reinforcing Apple’s position as one of the most powerful buyers in the global semiconductor and memory markets.
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That purchasing strength is becoming increasingly important as the tech industry grapples with a global memory chip shortage, driven largely by surging demand from artificial intelligence data centers. The resulting supply squeeze has pushed up prices across the electronics sector and forced some smartphone makers, particularly in China, to scale back production targets.
Apple’s rivals — including Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo — have reportedly reduced output expectations to below 100 million units each, reflecting their more constrained access to memory and storage components.
By contrast, Apple’s scale reportedly gives it stronger leverage in securing supply, with suppliers noting that its bargaining power allows it to better withstand shortages compared with competitors.
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The reports also suggest Apple is exploring a broader shift in its chip sourcing strategy. According to Bloomberg, the company has been in discussions to source memory chips for devices sold in China from domestic manufacturers such as ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies. The talks are said to be ongoing and have not been confirmed by Apple.
If finalised, the move would reflect Apple’s effort to diversify its supply chain amid geopolitical tensions and ongoing constraints in advanced semiconductor production.
Beyond the foldable device, Apple is also reportedly planning at least two additional iPhones in early 2027, including a standard iPhone 18 and a new model dubbed “iPhone Air,” signalling a continued expansion of its product segmentation strategy.
The broader rollout comes as Apple has already raised prices on some MacBook and iPad models, citing rising input costs linked to memory and storage shortages.
Taken together, the plans point to a company leaning heavily on product expansion and supply chain flexibility to maintain growth, even as the global smartphone market becomes more competitive and component supply increasingly constrained.
