iPhone 17 Which phone to upgrade to 2026/27? Is the Apple dominance over now?

[digimc]

Here is what we know so far, based off rumors but also some leaked information circulating on the web. This is just highlights not every single rumor.

2026

iPhone 17e (early Spring launch). Probably just the old 16 Plus form factor, but again with just one camera, though it highly likely it will gain promotion and Dynamic Island.

iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max (Fall). Three new leaked colors, with Burgundy and Brown being most widely talked about color (good and bad). Smaller Dynamic Island rumored or possibly a small pin hole moved to the left top corner of the screen. Rumors support both theories. Most everything else, design wise, stays the same. Same three cameras, same camera bump (plateau) and making the Ceramic Shield blend in more seamlessly, but that's about it. Not much of difference between the current 17 Pro and Pro Max.

iPhone Air 2 (Fall). Some rumors say it will happen next year and some say it will be pushed back to 2027. No one really knows for sure at this point. When and if it does come out, it appears it will largely maintain the same current form factor, but add a second camera, be ever so sightly thinner, add vapor chamber cooling, and maybe improve the current single speaker. Oh and some rumors suggest it will be cheaper.

iPhone Fold (Fall) - Nothing but rumors at this point. But a smaller 5.3 inch screen when closed, expanding to 7.6 inches when open. Made with advanced hinge technology to supposedly avoid creasing. Could be as thick as 4.5 mm when closed. Made with a combination of titanium and aluminum. No more Face ID. Touch ID is rumored. 2 rear 48 MP camera on the back, no telephoto lens and one 24 MP camera for the front. Better battery life also rumored. Hella expensive for an iPhone, with starting prices rumored to be between $2,000 and $2,500 at launch.

2027

iPhone 18 (early spring) - Who knows at this point. Probably a re-hashed iPhone 17 base model with pinhole camera moved to the top left, and some newer colors. Probably not radically different from the current base model iPhone.

iPhone 18e (early spring) - I couldn't care less at this point. If the rumors are true that this staggered 18 series launch is going to happen, then I can't possibly imagine there will be much demand for the 18e at this point. I see it being a very low price, very stripped down version of the base 18 model. Only selling point would be it will be cheapest iPhone ever.

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My take and my own personal purchasing decision would be to buy iPhone fold. I skipped the 17 series launch and will just use Apple Payment plan or Apple Card monthly payments and get the fold or whatever Apple ends up calling it. If it is closer to $2,000 I will definitely take the plunge. Yes it will have some bugs. Yes people will tell ya to wait on the second or third iteration. But you only live once, and since I am an Apple fan boy, and I have long wanted a foldable iPhone, this will be my choice.

Of course this is my decision based right now on mostly rumors. As others haves said things will likely change. If Apple is able to move the Face ID cameras under the screen for the 18 PM, and some more major differences spring up between now and then, it's possible I could alter my plans and go with the 18 PM. But it would take a significant change in current rumors for that to happen.

 

[geta]

Here is what we know so far, based off rumors but also some leaked information circulating on the web. This is just highlights not every single rumor.

2026

iPhone 17e (early Spring launch). Probably just the old 16 Plus form factor, but again with just one camera, though it highly likely it will gain promotion and Dynamic Island.

iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max (Fall). Three new leaked colors, with Burgundy and Brown being most widely talked about color (good and bad). Smaller Dynamic Island rumored or possibly a small pin hole moved to the left top corner of the screen. Rumors support both theories. Most everything else, design wise, stays the same. Same three cameras, same camera bump (plateau) and making the Ceramic Shield blend in more seamlessly, but that's about it. Not much of difference between the current 17 Pro and Pro Max.

iPhone Air 2 (Fall). Some rumors say it will happen next year and some say it will be pushed back to 2027. No one really knows for sure at this point. When and if it does come out, it appears it will largely maintain the same current form factor, but add a second camera, be ever so sightly thinner, add vapor chamber cooling, and maybe improve the current single speaker. Oh and some rumors suggest it will be cheaper.

iPhone Fold (Fall) - Nothing but rumors at this point. But a smaller 5.3 inch screen when closed, expanding to 7.6 inches when open. Made with advanced hinge technology to supposedly avoid creasing. Could be as thick as 4.5 mm when closed. Made with a combination of titanium and aluminum. No more Face ID. Touch ID is rumored. 2 rear 48 MP camera on the back, no telephoto lens and one 24 MP camera for the front. Better battery life also rumored. Hella expensive for an iPhone, with starting prices rumored to be between $2,000 and $2,500 at launch.

2027

iPhone 18 (early spring) - Who knows at this point. Probably a re-hashed iPhone 17 base model with pinhole camera moved to the top left, and some newer colors. Probably not radically different from the current base model iPhone.

iPhone 18e (early spring) - I couldn't care less at this point. If the rumors are true that this staggered 18 series launch is going to happen, then I can't possibly imagine there will be much demand for the 18e at this point. I see it being a very low price, very stripped down version of the base 18 model. Only selling point would be it will be cheapest iPhone ever.

-------------------------

My take and my own personal purchasing decision would be to buy iPhone fold. I skipped the 17 series launch and will just use Apple Payment plan or Apple Card monthly payments and get the fold or whatever Apple ends up calling it. If it is closer to $2,000 I will definitely take the plunge. Yes it will have some bugs. Yes people will tell ya to wait on the second or third iteration. But you only live once, and since I am an Apple fan boy, and I have long wanted a foldable iPhone, this will be my choice.

Of course this is my decision based right now on mostly rumors. As others haves said things will likely change. If Apple is able to move the Face ID cameras under the screen for the 18 PM, and some more major differences spring up between now and then, it's possible I could alter my plans and go with the 18 PM. But it would take a significant change in current rumors for that to happen.

The rumored 17e will be the same size as the 16e. And the Air2 maybe will see the light in 2027.

 

[Hal~9000]

Is the Apple dominance over now?

Apple dominance will continue to increase in the United States since according to recent surveys show 88% of teens have an iPhone and intend to purchase an iPhone as their next device. These teens will eventually grow up into adults who shape society and, since we are creatures of habit and it’s very hard to get consumers to change behaviors once they are used to a certain product, they will most likely stay within the iOS ecosystem.

Teen iPhone Ownership Continues to Soar

Apple's iPhone continues to be incredibly popular with U.S. teens, according to Piper Sandler's latest biannual teen survey. 88 percent of teens surveyed said that they own an iPhone, and 88 percent said they intend to purchase an iPhone as their next device. Teen iPhone ownership numbers have...

www.macrumors.com

 

[rambo47]

I'ma take a look at the 18 Air when it comes out, read the early reviews (by real users, not paid bloggers), and *maybe* upgrade from my 16 Pro Max. I'm also considering downgrading from a Pro Max to a regular Plus model. I'd have done that with the 16 series but they offered me the 16 Pro Max as a Verizon free upgrade so I took it. I don't need all the PM "wow-ee" bells and whistles, just a decent camera. Im not a serious photographer or content creator so this stuff is useless to me.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

My plan is to get Samsung Trifold whenever it arrives at my city. I am done with one phone piece only like my current iPhone pro max 17. It is time for me to have a pocketable hybrid phone tablet in one type device. I may return to iPhone whenever Apple releases a non wide and non short foldable phone or similar to iPhone pro max size foldable when it is folded.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

So no Air 2 next year and I don’t fancy buying an iPhone with a side Face ID hole. I don’t like the sound of the Pro iPhone colours. 2027 I don’t fancy a curved glass iPhone. I would switch to the Google pixel but those phones over heat very bad.

So looks like holding into the current iPhone longer. I expect all phones to go full screen but a corner camera makes no sense when on paper the Pixel looks better and has a proper centre camera.

Perhaps I will end up with an IPhone 18e? The constant redesigns of old Android phones really put me off. Why not just keep the current Dynamic Island? Moving it to the side makes no sense.

So they cancel the standard iPhone for 2026, no air 2 and a fold which is very debatable and doesn’t look good either.

I think all these new models are a risk. Air never sold well. Apple have had a good run but even Apple have said sales will fall dramatically due to no standard model? And I’m not sure why you would go from a 17 pro to a 18 pro I can’t see anything worth upgrading to seems more of a downgrade?

Big question will they keep standard iPhones longer even as an E model? With the current 16e design no curved glass no corner cut out?

Also interested to hear anybody else who doesn’t like the sound of these future iPhones?

Whatever is it that you are asking? The 17 Pros are superb devices. Anyone who wants a 2025 smartphone can find a great one. Or if you disagree with that opinion, one can find a nice competing phone if one can tolerate Android.

Next year's phones are not here yet. My guess is that they will be improved and be good as usual. So I am opposite to your request for "anybody else who doesn’t like the sound of these future iPhones."

I have owned or at least extensively tested every iPhone generation, and each generation has improved. Any implication that the next generation will somehow deteriorate goes against the experience of every previous generation.

Personally I find the iP17 PM cameras to be so good now that ultrawide to tele are seamless 48 MP that I may be able to skip the 18 generation. IMO the iOS software is what most needs improving at this point. We will see.

 

[cynics]

I realize this is an enthusiasts forum and typically used as a place to vent. However your personality is so tightly tied to a cellphone your making plans years in advance just from its rumors.....

Generally it's best to base an initial opinion on actual facts (specs released by Apple). A resolute decision comes after that using more information, trusted reviews, seeing it person, possibly handling it, determining whether any new features can benefit you, etc....

 

[gadget123]

I expect record low 2026 sales

*No standard model
*No air to 2027
*Poor design for the Pro and the rumours of 20th one year after
*Fold will be too niche and expensive

 

[Homme]

2026

iPhone 17e highly likely it will gain promotion


iPhone 18e (early spring) - I couldn't care less at this point. If the rumors are true that this staggered 18 series launch is going to happen, then I can't possibly imagine there will be much demand for the 18e at this point.

For your 17e part sorry but 🤦‍♂️

First of all it will get 60hz and secondly why would it get promotion when the non pro 17 just got promotion.

For the 18e even if it is released alongside the 18 and possibly the Air 2 it’s good though for 3 phones released in September and another 3 in February.

There will be demand for the 18e and 17e. I mean the 16e was (for Q3 estimates) sold really well in 5th place beating every Android phone.

I expect record low 2026 sales

*No standard model
*No air to 2027
*Poor design for the Pro and the rumours of 20th one year after
*Fold will be too niche and expensive

yeah with the non pro 18 not being released this year that will hit. But then the 17e might save Apple for this year if they only release the fold and the pro models