[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee (이윤서)] An IT tipster flatly denied speculation that Apple’s next high-end model, widely referred to as the iPhone Ultra, will face a prolonged launch delay.

On June 16 local time, 9to5Mac reported that Fixed Focus Digital said recent forecasts of a major delay to the iPhone Ultra launch were not true.

The core issue in the debate is the iPhone Ultra’s launch timing. Market expectations have differed on whether it will be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro or pushed back on a separate schedule. A Barclays investor note in March said the launch could slip to December. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also mentioned the launch could be slightly delayed, leaning toward a later release rather than a simultaneous debut with the iPhone 18 lineup.

Nikkei Asia also reported the launch could be further delayed due to engineering issues, prompting speculation it could slip to early 2027. With estimates continuing that the foldable iPhone’s name could be iPhone Fold, iPhone Ultra or something else, uncertainty over the launch timing has added to the mix.

Fixed Focus Digital played down the risk of a long delay. He has previously presented a simultaneous launch with the iPhone 18 Pro as the most likely scenario. He also maintained that even if the launch slips, it would be limited to at most about one month, saying, "Just trust me, there is no delay."

A synthesis of forecasts so far suggests more weight is on a launch within this year, even if timelines differ. Barclays’ December launch scenario is considered unusual compared with other views. Gurman’s remarks, by contrast, are closer to a short lag after the iPhone 18 Pro unveiling rather than a full postponement. His phrasing of a "slight delay" also suggests a limited schedule adjustment rather than a delay of several months.

Apple has previously staggered the launch timing of some iPhone models. It was also mentioned that splitting launches could help spread production burdens between high-end models and new form-factor devices. If the iPhone Ultra requires a separate production system, a strategy that separates the announcement and sales timing could also be sufficiently considered.

Still, based on current information, it is difficult to say Apple’s final schedule has been confirmed. It is also still unclear whether the product name will settle on iPhone Ultra.

In this situation, the key points to watch narrow to two. They are whether Apple will unveil the high-end model at its September event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, and whether the actual sales timing will be adjusted to around October. At least based on this leaker’s claim, the long-delay scenario stretching to early 2027 is losing ground.