Apple is expected to change its iPhone launch cycle significantly next year, potentially skipping the release of the standard iPhone 18 in 2026. Instead, the brand’s usual September event might debut only three premium models: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Fold. The more affordable iPhone 18e and the second generation of the iPhone Air are anticipated to launch later, around spring 2027. The foldable iPhone will likely be the priciest, with a starting price estimated at $2,399, aligning it with top-tier competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Analyst Arthur Liao predicts that smartphone shipments worldwide will decrease by 4% in 2026, including iPhone shipments, due to rising component costs. Specifically, increased prices for RAM, chips, and storage could raise the bill of materials by 5-7%. The iPhone Fold will have additional costly components such as an OLED panel, hinge mechanism, and lightweight internals. There are also reports that Apple aims to introduce a crease-free foldable design, potentially sourcing more expensive displays from Samsung to overcome a major foldable phone flaw. Despite the higher price potentially affecting demand, Apple is expected to sell around 15.4 million units of the foldable iPhone, with 5.4 million in 2026.
This new staggered release strategy aims to distribute revenue more evenly throughout the year, reduce pressure on Apple’s engineers and manufacturing partners, and allow each product to have a clearer spotlight. The shift also matches Apple’s increasing adoption of spring software updates and a faster hardware launch cadence, moving away from the long-established model of a single, concentrated fall event.
