Apple Splits iPhone 18 Launch, Pushing Standard Models to Spring 2027
Updated
Updated · CNET · Aug 29
Apple Splits iPhone 18 Launch, Pushing Standard Models to Spring 2027
3 articles · Updated · CNET · Aug 29
Summary
September 9 is expected to bring Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and rumored foldable iPhone Ultra, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 are tipped for a later spring 2027 release.
Bloomberg and Counterpoint point to a strategic shift toward a twice-yearly iPhone cycle, letting Apple prioritize premium devices for the holiday season and deepen its push toward higher-end models.
The foldable Ultra could open preorders with the Pro lineup but ship later because of hinge and display supply constraints, echoing Apple’s pattern of delaying new form factors by about a month.
Spring 2027 would also fit Apple’s budget-phone rhythm: the iPhone 18E is expected around March after the iPhone 17E launched at $599, potentially alongside the base iPhone 18.