Apple Plans Five New iPhone Models by Mid-2027 and Raises Foldable Output Target to 10 Million Units

Apple plans to launch at least five new iPhone models between the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027 while increasing its target for foldable devices, Cnbc reported. The company instructed suppliers to prepare production of about 10 million foldable iPhones this year, up from an earlier forecast of 7 million to 8 million units.

Apple has already secured components for roughly 80 million smartphones across new models scheduled for the second half of 2026.

Its total smartphone production for the full year is expected to exceed 220 million units. The moves come as Apple seeks to maintain supply amid a global memory shortage tied to artificial intelligence demand. Chinese rivals Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo have each cut their annual production targets below 100 million units.

An executive at a supplier that works with both Apple and Xiaomi said Chinese smartphone makers hold weaker bargaining power than Apple for memory chips. Apple is separately in talks to source memory chips for devices sold in China from ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies, Cnbc reported, citing Bloomberg.

Both chipmakers appear on a Pentagon list of companies alleged to support Beijing's military.

Negotiations between Apple and the two firms remain ongoing. Apple also plans at least two additional iPhone models for the first half of 2027, including the standard iPhone 18 and a new iPhone Air. The company raised prices on MacBook and iPad lines the week before July 2, 2026, after memory and storage costs increased.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.