The domestic release of Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to be postponed until late October or later. Initial production volumes are unlikely to meet demand, making prioritized allocation to regions like North America highly probable. This delay also postpones a direct confrontation with Samsung Electronics, which has already captured the domestic foldable phone market.
Apple will hold a new product announcement event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, on the 9th (local time). Alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the company is expected to unveil its first foldable smartphone. The product is likely to be named “iPhone Fold” or “iPhone Ultra,” featuring a book-type wide form factor that folds horizontally.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available for pre-order in South Korea starting the 11th, as the country is included in the first-wave launch markets. (Reference: Page 2, August 26th edition of this newspaper)
However, the foldable iPhone's release in South Korea this month appears challenging. The foldable model's shipment volume is delayed, causing a mismatch between its announcement and sales timing. Observers suggest it may take at least one to two months after the announcement for domestic availability.
A telecommunications industry official stated, “The foldable iPhone is not included in the pre-order sales being conducted this week,” adding, “Currently, marketing strategies are being developed with the assumption that domestic sales will be possible from late October to early November.”
The global release schedule also remains undecided. Some speculate that Apple may require additional preparation time after announcing the foldable product due to difficulties in securing hinge and foldable panel yields. In such cases, the global launch—including South Korea—could be further delayed.
Samsung Electronics has been able to maintain the sales momentum of its Galaxy Z8 Fold series in the second half of the year as Apple's entry into the foldable market has been delayed.
Originally, market research firm Counterpoint Research predicted that Apple would capture 25% of the global market in its first year of foldable phone sales. This was expected to reduce Samsung Electronics' market share from 40% last year to 32% this year. However, if delays in iPhone foldable production cause a gap in the global release schedule, Samsung's dominant position is expected to continue for the time being.
The impact on the domestic foldable market has also been postponed. In South Korea, foldable options are effectively limited to Samsung's Galaxy Z series. Apple's entry was seen as a turning point in the market structure, as it would be the first time iPhone users could switch to a foldable device while retaining iOS.
The three major telecom companies have completed preparations for pre-orders centered on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. With the foldable release pushed back to late October or later, they have split their second-half promotion schedules. The plan is to first launch the new products and then focus marketing efforts on the upcoming iPhone foldable.
