05.03.2025
Starting in 2026, Apple plans to change the release cycle for its flagship iPhone lineup, according to The Information. Apple will release the more expensive iPhone 18 Pro models in
The shift may be because Apple plans to debut a foldable iPhone in 2026, which will join the existing iPhone lineup. The fall release will include the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, an iPhone 18 Air, and the new foldable iPhone.
Later, in spring 2027, Apple will release the standard iPhone 18 and an updated version of the iPhone 16e. The less expensive iPhone models will undergo manufacturing trials in India as Apple expands efforts to reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing.
Shifting the release schedule will make it easier for Apple to manage an iPhone lineup that has six devices instead of five, as The Information suggests that a staggered launch would cut down on the number of manufacturing workers that Apple needs to employ at one time.
The 2026 Pro iPhone models could have under-display Face ID for the first time, with the hardware needed for facial recognition embedded underneath the display. This will allow Apple to cut down on the size of the Dynamic Island, offering something more akin to a single pill-shaped cutout at the top left of the device.
The foldable 2026 iPhone will have a book-style design with a 5.7-inch outer display when closed and an inner display close to eight inches when open.
This article, "Apple Plans Split iPhone Launch Strategy: Pro and Foldable in Fall 2026, Standard in Spring 2027" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
You may also be interested in this
Top Stories: Apple Event …
11.04.2023
Apple's "Scary Fast" event this week went off about as expected, with Apple showing off its next-generation Mac chips in a couple of product lines during a fast-paced 30-minute presentation.
The MacRumors Show: Jon P…
11.01.2024
Jon Prosser joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to talk through all of Apple's major Mac announcements from this week. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube
Apple Releases watchOS 9.…
05.30.2023
Apple today released watchOS 9.5.1, a minor bug fix update designed for the Apple Watch. watchOS 9.5.1 is a free download that comes two weeks after the launch of watchOS
Top Stories: iOS 19 and i…
04.12.2025
It was a big week for leaks and rumors in the Apple world, with fresh claims about iOS 19, the iPhone 17 Pro, and even the 20th anniversary iPhone coming
M4 Max Chip Up to 25% Fas…
11.01.2024
The first Geekbench 6 benchmark results for the high-end M4 Max chip with a 16-core CPU surfaced today, and they show that the chip is up to 25% faster than
Top Stories: Final Cut Pr…
05.27.2023
We're just over a week away from the WWDC keynote where Apple will reportedly finally reveal its long-rumored mixed-reality headset, and there are undoubtedly a number of other announcements planned
The MacRumors Show: Talki…
07.26.2024
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss all of the latest rumors about the iPhone 17 "Slim" – a whole new kind of iPhone coming next year.
New Desktop Macs With M2 …
06.01.2023
Apple is testing two desktop Macs that are equipped with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The M2 Max chip first came out in January
