Apple to delay standard iPhone 18 until spring 2027

Apple ↗ 0.22% is set to break from more than a decade of iPhone launch tradition by holding back its standard iPhone 18 until the first quarter of 2027, while reserving its September 2026 event for premium models and the company's first foldable device.

Supplier Confirms Split Launch

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Pegatron confirmed during its second-quarter 2026 earnings call that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max remain on track for their traditional September unveiling, while the base iPhone 18 will not arrive until early 2027. The remarks align with earlier indications from Largan Precision, a major Apple camera lens supplier, whose chairman noted that a large U.S. customer had postponed a new product launch to the first quarter of 2027.hi-tech+1

The September event is now expected to feature three high-end devices: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple's long-anticipated foldable iPhone, widely referred to in reports as the iPhone Ultra. If the plan holds, it would mark the first time since the iPhone 11 era that Apple's base model will not debut alongside the Pro lineup.blogdoiphone+2

Component Shortages Drive the Decision

Supply constraints appear central to the shift. Ongoing shortages of memory chips and bottlenecks in semiconductor production have forced manufacturers to adjust shipment schedules. With advanced memory capacity in high demand from companies building AI data centers, smartphone makers are competing for limited manufacturing resources.ascendants+2

By prioritizing higher-margin Pro models for the fall window, Apple can direct scarce components toward its most profitable devices during the critical holiday quarter. The standard iPhone 18, the more affordable iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air are all expected to follow in spring 2027.ibtimes+2

What It Means for Buyers

The staggered approach would leave the iPhone 17 as Apple's current standard model through the holiday season, extending its shelf life by several months. Customers who typically choose between a standard and Pro model each September will face a new calculus: purchase a premium device this fall or wait until 2027 for the regular iPhone 18.blogdoiphone+1

Analyst Jeff Pu has reported that when the standard iPhone 18 does arrive, it will feature 12GB of RAM — matching Pro-level memory — and a narrower Dynamic Island borrowed from the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple has not publicly confirmed the revised schedule.appleosophy