Industry reports suggest Apple is planning to stagger the release of its iPhone 18 range across two years, potentially launching its first foldable handset and introducing design innovations, disrupting its usual September-only schedule.
Apple’s next iPhone cycle may break with its long-standing September-only pattern, with industry reports suggesting the iPhone 18 range will be split across two launch windows. According to MacRumors, the higher-end iPhone 18 Pro models and a new foldable iPhone are expected in the second half of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e would follow in spring 2027. That would mean the base model may not arrive until several months after the premium handsets, a notable shift for Apple’s flagship line-up.
The proposed change appears designed to give Apple more room to market a wider portfolio. MacRumors, citing analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, says the company is trying to avoid a crowded autumn launch and the marketing dilution that can come when too many models compete for attention at once. As Apple extends the range beyond the traditional four-device structure, a staggered release could help it keep the more expensive phones in the spotlight first, then bring in the lower-priced models later.
Several design and hardware rumours are already circulating around the series. MacRumors says the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could arrive with Apple’s first 2-nanometre chip, improved battery life, a smaller Dynamic Island and a variable-aperture camera. The standard model is also said to receive a 2-nanometre A20 chip, alongside 12GB of RAM and a refreshed display. The Brazilian report in A TARDE adds that the base device may adopt a more restrained camera housing, while the Pro models could have a broader rear section to accommodate the triple-lens system.
Colour options are also expected to remain a focus. After the reception to the “cosmic orange” finish on the iPhone 17 Pro models, the rumours suggest Apple may keep leaning into bolder tones, with “dark cherry” among the colours discussed for the Pro versions. A TARDE also says Apple’s September launch window could include its first foldable handset, possibly called the iPhone Ultra, which would move the company into a segment long occupied by Samsung, Motorola, Huawei and Oppo.
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