Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports Apple is likely to have very limited supply of the iPhone Ultra at its September announcement. This could force the company to delay shipping the device by one to two months, echoing the pattern seen with the iPhone X.
The constrained availability mirrors historical Apple product launches where supply chain complexities led to staggered rollouts. The iPhone Ultra, expected to be a premium-tier model, may face particular challenges in ramping up production to meet initial demand.
Kuo did not provide specific unit numbers or shipment forecasts, but his track record on Apple supply chain predictions lends weight to the claim. Limited supply at launch could create a secondary market premium, with early adopters potentially paying above retail.
For consumers, the delay means those who order early may still wait weeks beyond the September event to receive their devices. The scarcity could also impact Apple's first-quarter sales figures, though the company typically manages such constraints without major financial disruption.
Some analysts caution that Kuo's projections may be conservative, as Apple has historically improved supply chain logistics for flagship launches since the iPhone X era.