No iPhone 18 in 2026, Another Report Claims

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to delay the launch of its base iPhone 18 model until spring 2027, marking a major shift in the company's long-established release cycle, according to South Korea's ETNews.

The report claims that Apple has informed some of its suppliers that the iPhone 18 will not be part of the September 2026 iPhone lineup. Instead, the company will unveil only higher-end models in the fall of that year, with the base iPhone and its entry-level counterpart, the "iPhone 18e," scheduled for release the following March. ETNews attributes this information to industry officials who said Apple has already begun communicating the revised plan to its component and materials partners.

The practical effect of the new schedule is that consumers looking for a new iPhone in fall 2026 will only be able to choose from high-end options. The entry-level iPhone and standard base model will not be available until about six months later.

The decision would represent the first time since the iPhone's 2007 debut that Apple has excluded a "standard" model from its annual fall launch. The shift appears tied to the introduction of Apple's first foldable iPhone, which is expected to join the fall 2026 slate as a flagship device positioned alongside the iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Apple's new release strategy involves dividing the iPhone release cycle into two distinct phases: premium devices in the second half of the year and lower-priced models in the first half. This restructuring has already begun; earlier this year Apple launched the iPhone 16e, which replaced the SE line as the company's dedicated entry-level iPhone. Unlike the SE, which carried a separate designation, the e-series ties directly to Apple's main lineup by carrying the previous year's number.

Both The Information and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in May that Apple was considering moving to a biannual schedule to help sustain sales throughout the calendar year. By staging new device launches in both March and September, Apple could avoid the concentrated sales pattern that typically peaks in the fourth quarter following its September events and tap into periods that historically see weaker consumer demand.

This year's iPhone 17 series will be the last to follow Apple's traditional release structure. The lineup is expected to consist of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the iPhone 17e following in March 2026. For September 2026, Apple will introduce four premium models: the iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone. The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will then arrive in March 2027.

By 2027, Apple's lineup will likely expand to six new iPhones per year, with the possibility of as many as 10 models available if Apple continues its practice of keeping earlier generations on sale at reduced prices.

Article Link: No iPhone 18 in 2026, Another Report Claims

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Very excited for iPhone Fold. I’m in for 5 upgrades.

 

[hoodlum90]

The world will end in 2026.

 

[russell_314]

It’s smart to split the lineup release date but is it smart not to have the regular iPhone out before the holiday season?

 

[Plutonius]

I think that it's better to skip a year and get it right.

I wonder if this has anything to due with Siri ? How many new iPhone releases can they have saying the phone is ready for Siri Apple intelligence ?

 

[Taq'aix]

I’m keeping my 14 Pro for another year. Apple can shove their incremental, overpriced, barely-upgraded garbage.

 

[Blackstick]

It’s smart to split the lineup release date but is it smart not to have the regular iPhone out before the holiday season?

Not if it means those would-be buyers pick up a Pro model at a higher price instead.

 

[lordydord]

Just another way of squeezing every last penny out of consumers to please their share holders rather than prioritising RDA and meaningful products!

 

[TeamGibbsv2]

This is just to apply maximum FOMO pressure on consumers around the launch to buy the more premium models. Then scoop up the bench sitters with the lower priced phone in the spring, perhaps when people are receiving their tax returns.

 

[spaxxedout]

Maybe to make room for the fold?

It honestly makes a lot of sense. I wish they did this years ago.

 

[hoodlum90]

This is likely due to concerns over TMSC 2nm volume not being ready to support the full iPhone lineup by fall 2026. I would expect the M6 MacBook Pro to get pushed to 2027 as well.

It would not surprise me if this becomes a new trend, with each chip upgrade becoming increasingly more difficult to ramp up.

 

[MayaUser]

probably they will shift these to let the fold be the main and only thing for September

 

[Moreplease]

Makes the upcoming iPhone 17 kinda attractive, because it will likely be marginally more impressive than usual (to plan for its longer lifespan) and because it will be the latest, current model for 18 full months.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The police will have to be called to MR because there will be mobs rioting.

 

[chloe.app]

This is likely due to concerns over TMSC 2nm volume not being ready to support the full iPhone lineup by fall 2026. I would expect the M6 MacBook Pro to get pushed to 2027 as well.

It would not surprise me if this becomes a new trend, with each chip upgrade becoming increasingly more difficult to ramp up.

Honestly I think Apple should cut down on how many models they are making each year. Take out the Air, keep the 'e' series, have a model for your average Joe (regular iPhone 18), keep the pro model, but replace the Pro Max with the Fold.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I think it’s pretty clear that, just like the MacBook Air before it, the iPhone air is very likely to replace the regular iPhone to create more of a differentiation between it and the pros.
It’s likely to take a couple years, though, but eventually I would not be surprised if the lineup is just E, Air (two sizes), Pro and Pro Max, Fold.
There are four iPads, there are four watches, there are four MacBooks, there are four AirPods, four iPhones is the next logical step.

Plus with the regular iPhone not getting a new design and the “17e” set to adopt several features from the standard like the Dynamic Island, it makes sense They will eventually just be one model instead of two separate ones.

So you’ll have the thicker standard economy model, the thin colorful attractive regular “Air” model, the thicker pro model, and the folding model.

 

[Nibo10]

I wonder if the 18 and 18e will be the same product. Also, shouldn’t the air be part of the 18 release (second window) if it’s replacing the plus in pricing? So many questions 😀

 

[turbineseaplane]

As many of us have noted..

Apple is now mainly a financial engineering operation.

 

[JCCL]

but replace the Pro Max with the Fold.

I'm sure most Pro Max users won't be interested in a Fold at least at the price it will launch.....

 

[BGrifter]

Sounds like a great time to get a replacement battery for your 12/13 Mini.

The long winter just got a little longer.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

It’s smart to split the lineup release date but is it smart not to have the regular iPhone out before the holiday season?

It’s likely that the air is going to become the regular iPhone, just like the MacBook Air became the regular MacBook.
Obviously, the first generation is going to have some quirks, like a single camera. But I bet you that’ll be the first thing changed with the second generation.

 

[itti]

It looks like the difference between iPhone 18 and 18e will be negligible.

 

[OS X Dude]

This has been done already with the iPad line - the A16 launched in March, the Pros launched prior. It'd make sense to have Pro-level devices launch earlier, then the budget stuff later.

 

[I7guy]

This is just to apply maximum FOMO pressure on consumers around the launch to buy the more premium models. Then scoop up the bench sitters with the lower priced phone in the spring, perhaps when people are receiving their tax returns.

Brilliant plan. Wonder how many are going to see through it. From what I gather from this thread, at least two.

 

[blairh]

Makes sense to me. The boring iPhones get relegated to the spring. Apple will potentially replace the vanilla iPhone with the Air (one day) if they can ever get better components onto the Air.