No iPhone 18 in 2026? Apple’s next big iPhone plan might surprise users

Apple may reportedly be postponing the release of the standard iPhone 18. According to industry sources, it might take more than a year until Apple offers a new flagship smartphone that isn’t a Pro model.

Cupertino’s premium smartphone will most likely be presented on September 12, and it will be the “iPhone 17″ as it will probably not introduce the base model of “iPhone 18″ until 2027. It would be the first time since the iPhone’s debut that Apple did not offer a new standard iPhone within a year. An unnamed source told Bloomberg that the Cupertino company intends to begin selling the base version of the iPhone 18 in early 2027.

On September 12, 2026, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The two Pro iPhones will most likely receive significant upgrades. Apple may introduce the first foldable iPhone later this year, with a date between July 10 and September 12 now widely expected. The Pro iPhones will most likely be able to replace the iPhone 17 series.

Apple will then release the successor to the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air in 2027, along with the iPhone 18. Analysts expect the two iPhones to be sold together in 2027 at a spring event, so a base model iPhone 18 would probably be sold then.

This year, Apple is set to become even more confusing for buyers, as the iPhone 16e, the iPhone Air, and three different Pro models are already available on the market.

The sources said it will most likely be a regular iPhone 18 with a good camera and faster A18 chipset, with no changes to the design or display, but there will be more differences in hardware and software when Apple moves away from its own chips.

There is no word on how much Apple’s base iPhone 18 will cost, but the most likely price is around $800.

In late 2021 and 2022, demand for iPhones plummeted, and even Apple was forced to lower its forecast for sales of iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The global market for PCs, smartphones, and tablets is expected to shrink by 8% in 2023, and this forecast has not changed since Apple released its last earnings report in July.

Apple wants to take some of the risk out of the picture by spreading its iPhone launches out over the year instead of concentrating on two events in September and February. The new timeline makes sense for a company that’s growing with many different products in its lineup: The Air, and Pro Max may be able to stay on the market for a little longer and make it easier for Apple to advertise them.