No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

[MacRumors]

Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle.

Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest standard model for over 18 months. This would mark the first time Apple skips an entire calendar year without releasing a new generation of its flagship non-Pro iPhone.

For more than a decade, Apple has introduced its mainline iPhone lineup in the fall, with all core models launching simultaneously in September. That pattern is expected to change this year, when the company is widely rumored to split its upcoming iPhone releases across two distinct release windows rather than unveiling the entire lineup at once. Under this strategy, Apple is expected to prioritize higher-end models in the fall while delaying lower-cost or standard models until the following year.

As a result, Apple is not expected to ship the iPhone 18 in 2026. Instead, reports indicate that Apple plans to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone in the usual fall timeframe, while holding the standard iPhone 18 back until the spring of 2027, where it will launch alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.

The rumored change is tied to Apple's expanding iPhone lineup. With the introduction of the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air in 2025, the expected debut of the first foldable iPhone in 2026, and the continued presence of older models like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, there could be at least eight distinct iPhone models on sale from Apple by the end of 2026. A staggered release schedule would allow the company to further differentiate its models, give them a longer sales window without internal competition, and spread iPhone launches more evenly across the year.

Supply chain analysts have also pointed to manufacturing and logistics benefits as a factor behind the rumored shift. By spacing out launches, Apple could reduce production bottlenecks, better manage component supply for advanced technologies, and smooth revenue recognition across fiscal quarters rather than concentrating iPhone sales in a single period.

Article Link: No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

 

[thermal]

Based on how successful the base iPhone is proving to be, I feel this is a mistake.

 

[winxmac]

Apple is finally going to do what Samsung [S and Note, now S and Fold/Flip] and Huawei [P, now called Pura, and Mate] has been doing for years, although in this case, the same generation of iPhone but 6 months apart and not in the same calendar year.

A next year release is not really new for Apple since they released a purple iPhone 12 in 2021, a green iPhone 13 and alpine green iPhone 13 Pro in 2022, a yellow iPhone 14 in 2023, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone 2022, iPhone 16e in 2025

 

[JPack]

I’ll take a staggered launch over a price increase. That’s the main reason for this. You want an A20 and 12GB in iPhone 18 without a $100 increase? Let the Pro buyers go first.

 

[rufwork]

Brilliant. Want a new iPhone for Christmas? Or want to buy someone one?

Maximized profit margins (and amounts) activated.

I think Apple learned a lot from SE and 16e sales.

 

[Slippery Gimp]

I miss the days of one iPhone model ☹️

 

[AppleMacintosh]

Apple’s iPhone lineup has historically been known for its simplicity but at this point, I feel Samsung has taken over this title.
It numbers all of its flagship phones after the year (Note 20, S21, S22 Plus, S23 Ultra, S24 FE, S25 Edge) - all within the same calendar year & largely at the start of each year in January…making the numbering system much more easier to understand than Apple in contemporary times who has started to stagger its flagship iPhone 16/ 17/ 18 lineup across 2 calendar years since the ‘e’ models, having non-number models (like the SE & Air) & also skipping random numbers entirely (like the iPhone 2 & 9).

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

My theory?
Rumors are the iPhone Air2 will add a second camera and a bigger battery. A stereo speaker is likely a safe bet as well.
The other rumor we have recently heard is that it will be more affordable. Maybe $799?

Anyone who doesn’t see what Apple wants to do with the iPhone Air is kidding themselves, it’s the new regular iPhone.
Just like the MacBook Air took the spot of the old MacBook, the iPhone Air takes the spot of the regular iPhone once it reaches feature parody and a comparable price.
Then the old iPhone 16/17 era design becomes the new $600 “budget” model.
Not only does this lineup make more sense, it also gives the regular iPhone more of an identity as the “super thin” one instead of just a Pro with a missing camera lens as it is now.

The schedule also matches the last three years of MacBooks, pros in the fall and airs in the spring.
The fall one perfect for holiday season splurges, the spring one perfect for back to school and summer season.

 

[Viridian5]

My theory?
Rumors are the iPhone Air2 will add a second camera and a bigger battery. A stereo speaker is likely a safe bet as well.
The other rumor we have recently heard is that it will be more affordable. Maybe $799?

Anyone who doesn’t see what Apple wants to do with the iPhone Air is kidding themselves, it’s the new regular iPhone.
Just like the MacBook Air took the spot of the old MacBook, the iPhone Air takes the spot of the regular iPhone once it reaches feature parody and a comparable price.
Then the old iPhone 16/17 era design becomes the new $600 “budget” model.
Not only does this lineup make more sense, it also gives the regular iPhone more of an identity as the “super thin” one instead of just a Pro with a missing camera lens as it is now.

The schedule also matches the last three years of MacBooks, pros in the fall and airs in the spring.
The fall one perfect for holiday season splurges, the spring one perfect for back to school and summer season.

Solid theory I’m on board

 

[Biro]

Based on how successful the base iPhone is proving to be, I feel this is a mistake.

I draw exactly the opposite conclusion from this. The base iPhone 17 is proving to be such a good value that it’s eating into sales of other iPhones. On the other hand, perhaps Apple’s reported plans to hold off on bringing out the next base phone until the Spring of 2027 is the reason they were so generous with the iPhone 17’s specs.

 

[commander.data]

Seeing the iPhone 17 was an unusually large update last year in terms of features (ProMotion, etc), Apple already built in some room tech-wise to delay the iPhone 18 into 2027. I wonder if Apple will do a larger than usual colour refresh this spring (ie. more than 1 new colour) to keep the iPhone 17 from feeling too stale?

 

[lazyrighteye]

Based on how successful the base iPhone is proving to be, I feel this is a mistake.

I think because of the 17’s success, they want to spread that across the calendar - which seems smart. It’s a one massive quarter vs two awesome quarters approach. Better balance.

 

[bmark]

Tim Cook needs to resign now if Apple doesn't release the iPhone 18 this year!

 

[Permanent Sigh]

This is because of the RAM prices.

 

[dumastudetto]

iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max will be the new budget phones, sitting alongside the $2999 iPhone Fold.

 

[siddavis]

I miss the days of one iPhone model ☹️

THIS is iPhone.

 

[uczcret]

This is because of the RAM prices.

This has been reported for quite some time, certainly before the RAM shortage.

 

[Sportpoz]

In my opinion, this is a mistake. Apple should release the iPhone 18 first, and only later the pro.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The software is what needs to get off the annual cycle, not the hardware.

 

[JPack]

This is because of the RAM prices.

Correction, it’s TSMC wafer prices. A 2nm wafer costs double what a 5nm wafer cost. Something has to give.

This is why we first heard about this staggered launch back in 2020. This isn’t a new concept. Apple tried it with iPhone 14 and 15, but people hated getting a last gen chip. Apple reverted back to current gen chips with iPhone 16 and 17, but the cost pressure is still there.

The solution is either a $100 bump to the base model. Use last year’s chip. Or stagger the launch by 6 months but use current chip. Choose one.

 

[MaaK]

The switch of release cycle is the only reason why Apple gave the iPhone 17 such a big upgrade. It needs stay current for 1 1/2 years. If they kept the 1 year cycle, I’m sure Apple would have made less upgrades to the 17.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

This article's side story on Air 2 is confusing. The latest rumor that Macrumors covered about Air 2 suggested a fall 2026 release. Now, this piece hints at a spring 2027 launch, while oddly linking to an older Macrumors article from May 2025 that also predicted a fall 2026 release.

 

[bmark]

This is because of the RAM prices.

Total BS, Apple locked in their RAM prices early on via long term contracts!

 

[trusso]

Fine with this.

Now do it for the OSes.

 

[HouseLannister]

While their at it, don't release an OS this year. Still waiting for you to finish iOS 18 with my More Personal Siri.