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Leaker: Apple Downgrading iPhone 18 to Cut Costs

JPack said:
If Apple wanted Air 2 to succeed, they'd launch it alongside 18 Pro/Max/Ultra.

Nobody is going to wait 6 month buy Air 2 for $999 when they can buy 18 Pro for $1,099 on day one. People willing to wait 6 months are pragmatic, wait and see customers. Those aren't Air customers.
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I'm absolutely a wait-and-see potential Air 2 customer. If there aren't huge upgrades in the Air 2, why would I upgrade from my perfectly usable Air 1? I'm not looking to upgrade to a thick brick of a Pro phone, I'm done with that.
 
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JPack said:
Nobody is going to wait 6 month buy Air 2 for $999 when they can buy 18 Pro for $1,099 on day one.
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Alternatively: Nobody is going to wait 6 month buy 19 Pro for $1,099 when they can buy Air 2 for $999 on day one. 😉
 
JPack said:
Pretty obvious Apple doesn't want to increase the price from $799. This is like Neo, Apple won't increase from $599 and would rather cut the specs.

Probably things like:

  • Keeping LPDDR5X-8533 instead of moving to 9600.
  • More A20 cores disabled to further improve yield.
  • Slower or same as 18e NAND speed.
  • If you look at the Neo chassis under a microscope, the surface is rougher than Air. Apple could apply the same finishing standard to iPhone 18.
  • Shorter USB-C cable (0.8m)
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I doubt that Apple will remove features that were added to the 17, but could easily fail to advance “under the hood”. Fewer colors would also reduce inventory overhead.
 
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Wait wait… what do you mean, that it’s gonna be similar to “18e”? What’s the point of “e” anyway then?
What 18e tho? There’s not an 18e
I can imagine they dont make smaller bezels or something, but that’s not so drastic
 
The standard 17 was the best phone in the entire lineup. Not heavy or thick like the pros. Not nobbled to one camera/speaker like the Air. Only limitation is 8GB and the lack of a basic telephoto but cropping for x2 is probably fine (XS was x2 optical and I didnt mind that).
The only reason to get a pro was for the telephoto since there really is no local AI that's worth anything.
If the 18 is just a cpu upgrade and a bump to 12GB it will still beat the pro's on value for features. Shame it lacks the telephoto though.
 
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mlayer said:
I'm absolutely a wait-and-see potential Air 2 customer. If there aren't huge upgrades in the Air 2, why would I upgrade from my perfectly usable Air 1? I'm not looking to upgrade to a thick brick of a Pro phone, I'm done with that.
Click to expand...

Because the average smartphone replacement cycle is 2 to 3 years, meaning Air 2 targets iPhone 14 to 16 users. Most people do not upgrade annually.

For iPhone Air, Apple's product page was clearly targeting iPhone 13 to 15 users.
 
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This is why I bought the 17, although I originally was planning to wait for the following model. With the current developments in components pricing it seems highly unlikely that we will see major spec improvements in the coming release cycle. I would not be surprised if we saw a cooling demand after the current "super-cycle".
 
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uacd said:
They can already save a lot by selling 17 at a discounted price. What is the point in inventing something new every year? Cut the R&D costs and it is the best strategy, most people will opt for the cheaper anyway
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They’re not inventing anything anymore since the Apple Watch every new segment and product is an improvement to already existing competing devices.
 
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Can’t see Apple doing a Lays Potato Chip deal (reduce the chip count, puff up the bag with air - same look and feel maintain the price), but we’re used to surprises by now. What would the tagline be? « Why wait? - downgrade now to a new iPhone 18, revolutionary solid plastic case, fewer camera elements - less weight!! ».

For now, it’s just a …. »rumor »……let’s wait and see.
 
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So we have curved display phones coming folding phone coming which looks awful compared to other fold. iPhone 18 pro looks a poor update too.

Add to that iPhone 18 looks a pointless update for iPhone 17 users.

Then rumours of a flip iPhone Apple is losing its touch. The cheaper models are starting to look better and the updates are becoming Samsung like.
 
klasma said:
Alternatively: Nobody is going to wait 6 month buy 19 Pro for $1,099 when they can buy Air 2 for $999 on day one. 😉
Click to expand...

Air 2 will also be fighting against iPhone XX or whatever Apple decides to call their 20th anniversary phone. It will only get 6 months in the spotlight.

Whoever pushed Air 2 to launch in spring 2027 had to know it was going to fail.
 
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Hmm. They did this type of action before at the tail end of the pandemic when certain materials were not available.

I guess Apple’s buying power has a bottom to it compared to the AI data centers, this is likely why we are hearing about this type of change. Was hoping it as going to be the iPhone 19… I guess some vendors wanted to review Apple’s spend into this calendar year.
 
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ikramerica said:
If they want the Air2 to succeed, the 18 can’t be as good as the 17 was in comparison to the Air.

If the Air2 finds a way to get a second camera and return some of the camera technology the Air dropped, while the 18 goes sideways compared to the 17, the Air2 is no longer a compromise. Just “different”
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That’s very true— the iPhone 17 value proposition was too good and sold too well. They will want to product segment people up to the Air or Pro (or WAY UP to the Fold).
 
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So there's absolutely no specifics on what a leaker says may or may not be the changes that may or may not be coming to the next phone.

I could say exactly the same on social media.

What a rewarding post to read. Thanks so much, MR.
 
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ab2c4 said:
Makes you wonder if the 18 will be what the 18e was going to be, and not have the 18e at all, just keep the 17e around. Basically call the 18e the 18 and charge the full $799 18 price for it.

If people think they need a phone in the next year they might be better off buying something from the 17 lineup now.
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The 17 is most likely going to be a best bang for your buck. The 18 is going to be a minor refresh. That’s obvious, even before launch. Anyone thinking otherwise is fooling themselves.

Your best bet if you want to save money and not get the latest and greatest is to wait till the 18 launches and get the 17 series when they knock off $100 or more (used etc).
 
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