Highlights
- Apple may skip the standard iPhone 18 launch in 2026 and delay it to spring 2027.
- If true, the iPhone 17 could remain the latest base model for over 18 months.
- Reports suggest Apple will split its iPhone releases, favoring Pro and foldable models in fall 2026.
- A staggered launch strategy could help Apple ease supply chain pressure and balance revenue.
You could tell people the sky isn’t blue, and some might nod and shrug along, but say no new iPhone is rolling out this year, and everyone would protest. That’s how powerful the realm around the iPhone has been built, brick by brick. But now, new reports throw a major curveball, suggesting Apple may skip the launch of a standard iPhone 18 model this year. If these claims hold, it would mark an unprecedented break from the company’s long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle.
The iPhone 17 was a massive worldwide success, but that success is now prompting some unexpected moves from Apple. Despite the strong performance of the iPhone 17, Apple’s reported decision to skip the launch of a standard iPhone 18 this year is proving contentious. That said, the company may already have plans to lessen the impact in some secure way, as the iPhone maker wouldn’t be easy to take down.
The iPhone 17 May Carry the Torch On Its Own
According to reports, the iPhone 18 isn’t expected to arrive until spring 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 as Apple’s standard model for more than 18 months. If it were true, this would mark a first in Apple’s history: the first calendar year without a new non-Pro flagship iPhone release.
However, there’s a twist. This is not to say that Apple is skipping iPhone launches altogether. The company is widely speculated to be splitting its iPhone releases across two different launch windows, rather than unveiling the entire lineup at once.
Apple is about to turn the page on its past
For the better part of a decade, Apple has introduced its main iPhone lineup in the fall, with all models launching together in September. That long-standing custom now seems to be altered. Under the company’s new roadmap, Apple is expected to double down on its higher-end models in the fall, while pushing standard or lower-cost models to the following year.
Building on that, Apple is not expected to launch the standard iPhone 18 in 2026. Instead, reports suggest the company plans to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone in the typical fall window, while pushing the standard iPhone 18 to spring 2027. At that time, it is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2.
The rumored change seems to stem from Apple’s expanding iPhone lineup. With the launch of the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air in 2025, the anticipated arrival of the first foldable iPhone will be in 2026. The extended sale of older models like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus would be staggering, as Apple could have at least eight different iPhone models on the market by the end of 2026.
It is worth noting that Supply chain analysts have also underscored manufacturing and logistics as key levers behind the rumored shift. By staggering launches, Apple could ease a production logjam, better manage the supply of advanced components, and spread revenue more evenly across fiscal quarters rather than concentrating iPhone sales in a single period.
A key feature to watch out for in the iPhone 18 Pro
Apple’s iPhones may not always bring features that are utterly new to the industry. But when Apple brings them, even those who introduced the technology first might feel clipped, because Apple has a way of making existing ideas feel innovative and influential.
In line with this, recent reports suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro models will feature a variable-aperture camera. While this technology has already been seen in devices from Samsung, Xiaomi Ultra, and Oppo, Apple’s implementation of the same feature is expected to set a new range, making it a feature worth keeping an eye on.
Highlights
- New reports throw a major curveball, suggesting Apple may skip launching a standard iPhone 18 model this year.
- The iPhone 18 isn’t expected to arrive until spring 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 as Apple’s standard model for more than 18 months.
- Under the company’s new roadmap, Apple is expected to double down on its higher-end models in the fall, while pushing standard or lower-cost models to the following year.
- By staggering launches, Apple could ease production logjam, better manage the supply of advanced components, and spread revenue more evenly across fiscal quarters.
Conclusion
While speculation hovering around the iPhone maker is quite confusing, we’ve just entered the new year, and we may need to wait a few months to understand precisely what Apple’s plans are.
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