Apple Delays Base iPhone 18 to Spring 2027 as Memory Shortage Pushes $2,000 Foldable
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Sep 5
Apple Delays Base iPhone 18 to Spring 2027 as Memory Shortage Pushes $2,000 Foldable
3 articles · Updated · WIRED · Sep 5
Summary
September 9 is expected to bring only three Apple phones—the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and a first foldable—while the base iPhone 18 is reportedly pushed to spring 2027.
Higher memory costs are driving the shift, with Apple favoring premium models that can better absorb price increases after the company said in June it would raise product prices.
IDC says the staggered rollout could spread revenue beyond Apple’s usually strong holiday quarter, with lower-priced devices such as an iPhone 18e and possibly a second-generation iPhone Air arriving later.
A foldable iPhone is rumored to cost about $2,000, and Apple is leaning on financing, trade-ins and a July leasing program to soften sticker shock.
The move fits a broader smartphone trend: folding phones from Samsung, Google and Motorola have all gotten pricier, while demand for refurbished devices keeps rising.