Recent reports indicate that the regular version of the “iPhone 18” will not see the light this year, making the “iPhone 17” the last regular release from the company for a period that may exceed a year and a half.
The “MacRumors” website, which specializes in Apple news, stated that the release of the standard version of the “iPhone 18” may be delayed until early 2027, which is the first time in a decade that Apple has not updated its main flagship phone for an entire year.
This shift comes in the context of Apple moving away from its annual tradition of releasing all of its phones in September, as the company is moving towards a spaced-out release strategy, focusing on presenting luxury devices first in the fall season, and then releasing more economical or popular versions later in the year.
Based on this strategy, Apple is expected to unveil the “iPhone 18 Pro” and “iPhone 18 Pro Max”, in addition to the first foldable iPhone in the fall of 2026, while the regular version of the “iPhone 18” will arrive in the spring of 2027 with devices such as the “iPhone 18e” and the second generation of “iPhone Air”.
This change is also related to the significant expansion of Apple’s phone lineup, as the company added devices such as the “iPhone 16e” and “iPhone Air” in 2025.
A foldable phone is expected to be launched in 2026, so that by the end of next year the company will have eight different models available for sale at the same time.(24)
