Media reports have announced that Apple plans to launch at least five new iPhone models between the second half of this year and the first half of 2027, coinciding with increased production plans for foldable devices, as part of its efforts to boost market share amid a global shortage of semiconductor components, according to the Nikkei Asia newspaper.

The report added that the American technology giant has directed its suppliers to prepare for the production of around 10 million foldable iPhones this year, compared to previous estimates ranging from 7 to 8 million units, based on sources with knowledge of the matter.

According to the newspaper, Apple secured components for approximately 80 million smartphones distributed across new models for the second half of 2026 before launching its first foldable device ever.

Apple’s total smartphone production in 2026 is expected to exceed 220 million units, according to the report, given its continued purchasing power and negotiating ability to secure memory chips and components compared to its competitors in the sector.

The report noted that this superiority enabled Apple to cope with the supply shortage crisis better than Chinese companies such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, which have reduced their annual production targets to less than 100 million units each.

The report quoted an official from a supplier that is jointly supplying Apple and Xiaomi as saying, “Apple’s negotiating power gives it a clear advantage in securing more memory chip supplies or even influencing prices,” adding that this “gives Apple a strong incentive to launch iPhones in the spring and increase its market share.”

Apple’s moves to secure supply chains come at a time when increased demand from artificial intelligence data centers is causing a global crisis in memory chips and rising production costs across the sector.

Bloomberg also reported that Apple is holding talks with ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies in China to supply memory chips for its devices sold within the Chinese market, despite both being on a Pentagon list accusing them of supporting the Chinese military. Apple has not confirmed these talks so far.

Apple is seeking to expand its supplier base amid increasing pressure on consumer electronics supply chains.

The company also plans to launch at least two new iPhone models in the first half of 2027, including the standard iPhone 18 and a new phone called “iPhone Air,” according to Nikkei Asia.

This ambitious launch schedule comes after Apple recently raised prices for its MacBook and iPad devices amid rising memory and storage costs.