The yearly iPhone launch schedule is reportedly going to become very confusing — or exciting — depending on how you look at it.
The premium versions of the iPhone 18 series, but not the base model, will be released in September 2026, along with the first foldable iPhone, according to an ET News report. The base iPhone 18 will be launched in the first half of 2027, the report said.
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This decision has bearing on the release of iPhone 17, iPhone Pro, iPhone Pro Max and iPhone Air this September. There is no exact date for those releases yet. If the rumors and reports become reality, this would be the launch schedule over the next two years:
- September 2025: iPhone 17, iPhone Pro, iPhone Pro Max, iPhone Air
- First half of 2026: iPhone 17e (entry-level version, ala the iPhone 16e)
- September 2026: First foldable iPhone, iPhone 18 Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max
- First half of 2027: iPhone 18 base model, iPhone 18e
A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kumar Priyadarshi, founder of training and consulting firm TechoVedas, said having two launches per year “could work” if “Apple does it right. By splitting the release, Apple stays in the news for a longer time, which could help keep sales steady all year.”
Apple saw a 2% decline in shipments of its iPhones in the second quarter of this year.
Priyadarshi said the new launch schedule could also be smart from a customer perspective. “People who want the newest, most advanced models will buy in the fall, while the spring release can attract buyers looking for a more affordable upgrade,” he said. “But Apple needs to clearly explain things so that buyers of the regular model don’t feel like they’re just waiting for a ‘lesser’ iPhone.”
