Apple Skipping iPhone 18 Launch This Year - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 Launch This Year

by

Apple supplier Pegatron today indirectly confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 model will not be released until next year, according to a new report.

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 This Year
Pegatron held an earnings call for the second quarter of 2026 today. On the call, Taiwan's Economic Daily News said Pegatron indicated that one of its customers will be changing its usual smartphone shipment schedule. As widely expected, the report said Apple plans to release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable "iPhone Ultra" this September, followed by the standard iPhone 18 model in the first quarter of 2027.

The standard iPhone 11 through to the iPhone 17 all launched alongside Pro and Pro Max models in September over the years, so the launch of the base model iPhone 18 being postponed until around March 2027 would be a notable change.

Apple's plans to split up the launch of the iPhone 18 series has already been widely rumored by sources such as Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, former The Information reporter Wayne Ma, and others over the past year. Apple supplier Largan Precision also hinted at the change in a similarly indirect way earlier this year.

A lower-end iPhone 18e and an iPhone Air 2 are also expected to be released around March 2027.

In total, six new iPhone models are slated to launch by the end of March:

  • iPhone 18 Pro: September 2026
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max: September 2026
  • iPhone Ultra: September 2026
  • iPhone 18: March 2027
  • iPhone 18e: March 2027
  • iPhone Air 2: March 2027
Related Roundups: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro
Tag: Economic Daily News
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Rumor Check 20 Claims Ranked by Likelihood Feature

iPhone 18 Rumor Reality Check: 20 Claims Ranked by Likelihood

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:10 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable iPhone are less than two months away from being unveiled, with the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 expected to follow in spring 2027 as part of the company's new split-launch strategy. We've looked back at everything we know so far, and ranked the most consistent rumors, followed by the more speculative ones. Solid Rumors ...
Read Full Article • 30 comments
5 Reasons to Buy the iPhone 17 Now Feature

5 Reasons to Buy the iPhone 17 Now Instead of Waiting for iPhone 18

Thursday July 30, 2026 4:00 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable are less than two months from being unveiled. That may sound like a reason to sit tight if you're looking to upgrade from an iPhone 16 or older series, but between looming price hikes and Apple's new split-launch calendar, there's a decent case for grabbing an iPhone 17 series model right now. Here are five reasons in favor of putting your order ...
Read Full Article • 81 comments
Apple Skipping iPhone 18 This Year

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 This Year

Thursday July 30, 2026 6:31 am PDT by
Apple has no plans to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and several other reputable sources. This September, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an all-new foldable iPhone that will reportedly be named the iPhone Ultra. The regular iPhone 18, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 are not...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

jsavvy Avatar
jsavvy
3 hours ago at 07:09 am
I get the strategy…I just don’t like. I hope it doesn’t work out.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nugget Avatar
Nugget
3 hours ago at 07:25 am
I think this is a great move. The historical strategy of trying to release all their various phone models all on the same day is a logistics nightmare and makes it more difficult for Apple to justify the existence of niche-market phones like the Air, Mini, and rumored Ultra.

There's no immutable law of the universe that says that Apple must release all their phone models on the same day. The market will adapt and I think it will be a healthier release tempo for the products, the company, and consumers.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
I7guy
3 hours ago at 07:05 am
Okay, the higher margined iPhones get released first. Can’t fault Apple for that strategy.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
CarAnalogy
2 hours ago at 07:37 am

I get the strategy…I just don’t like. I hope it doesn’t work out.

It makes sense, but feels like it is going to be strange at the actual 18 launch since the general public will think the 18 has already launched because of the 18 Pro.
The general "standard" iPhone buying user doesn't even know what two digit number their phone is exactly anymore. They just go to their cellular provider when the battery starts wearing out/they start seeing "free" upgrade promotions.

The base 17 is already so good, I can't really think of anything I'd really want to see from the 18. Year over year upgrades are now as boring on phones as they are on computers. I'm frankly surprised they're still updating the Pro every single year. They almost have too many iPhones now.

The real enthusiasts are buying the Pros anyway so nothing changes. Anyone who doesn't have a 17 by now and wants one might as well either just get it or wait a little longer, it's not going to be that different either way.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Return Zero Avatar
Return Zero
3 hours ago at 07:19 am
The Air 2 is going to be a great consolation prize for anyone who ends up getting the Ultra and disliking it XD
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclardy Avatar
jclardy
3 hours ago at 07:19 am
It makes sense, but feels like it is going to be strange at the actual 18 launch since the general public will think the 18 has already launched because of the 18 Pro.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments