Apple plans five new iPhones through 2027, eyes Chinese-made chips amid foldable push, reports say

Apple is gearing up for an exciting future with plans to unveil at least five new iPhone models from late this year through the first half of 2027. This initiative comes alongside an increased focus on foldable smartphones as the company aims to capture a larger portion of the market amidst ongoing component supply challenges, according to a recent report from Nikkei Asia. The tech giant has directed its suppliers to prepare for the production of approximately 10 million foldable iPhones in 2023, a notable increase from the previous estimate of 7 to 8 million units. Ahead of the launch of its first foldable device, Apple has already secured components for around 80 million smartphones across various new models anticipated for the latter half of 2026. The overall production forecast for Apple’s smartphones in 2026 is set to exceed 220 million units, as stated in the report. Apple's robust purchasing power and scale in sourcing memory and components give it a significant advantage over its competitors, particularly during this period of shortage driven by a surge in AI-related demand. This strategic positioning has enabled Apple to better navigate supply challenges compared to Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, who have each revised their production targets downward to below 100 million units. An executive from a supplier working with both Apple and Xiaomi pointed out that the bargaining power of Chinese smartphone makers is comparatively weak, making it difficult for them to secure additional memory chip supplies or negotiate higher prices. This situation presents Apple with a unique opportunity to launch its new iPhones in the spring and capture a larger market share. As the global memory shortage persists, fueled by rising demands from AI data centers, Apple is reportedly in discussions to acquire memory chips from Chinese manufacturers ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies. These companies are noted for being on a Pentagon list of entities suspected of supporting China's military activities. Although Apple has not confirmed these negotiations, reports indicate that talks are still underway. In a bid to diversify its supplier network amid the ongoing memory shortages affecting the consumer electronics sector, Apple is also planning to launch at least two new iPhones in the first half of 2027, including the standard iPhone 18 and a new iPhone Air. This ambitious product roadmap follows Apple's recent price increases for its MacBook and iPad models, driven by rising memory and storage costs. As of now, Apple has not provided any comments regarding these developments.