Apple to split iPhone 18 launch, delaying standard model to spring 2027

Apple ↘ 0.80% is breaking with its long-standing tradition of debuting an entire iPhone lineup in a single September event. This year, only the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the company's first foldable device — expected to be called the iPhone Ultra — will arrive in the fall, while the standard iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e are being pushed to spring 2027.

A Six-Phone Problem

The split strategy stems from a practical challenge: Apple now has six iPhone models in its annual cycle, up from the four it released as recently as 2023. Michael Burkhardt of 9to5Mac noted that "with the introduction of the iPhone Ultra, it will now be six annual iPhones. That's a substantial number of devices, leading to a very congested stage if they all debut simultaneously."forbes

Supply chain considerations are also at play. A Nikkei Asia report earlier this year cited an iPhone supplier executive saying that "supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year" and that "the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision" to split the launch.appleinsider

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has indicated September 8 or September 9 as the most likely dates for the keynote event, with pre-orders expected to begin on Friday, September 11, and devices going on sale September 18.macrumors+1

The C2 Modem Question

One of the most closely watched aspects of the iPhone 18 Pro is whether Apple will finally sever its dependence on Qualcomm ↘ 0.52% for cellular modems. Apple has been developing its in-house C2 chip as a successor to the C1X modem currently used in some lower-end models.semiwiki

Leaked documents from a cyberattack on Apple manufacturing partner Tata Electronics suggested a region-based approach, with Qualcomm modems retained for U.S. models and the C2 chip used internationally. However, Qualcomm's most recent earnings commentary complicates that picture. CEO Cristiano Amon told Reuters that Qualcomm "expects revenue from Apple products to decline more quickly" as supply constraints reduce its share of components in the next iPhone launch "to well below its earlier estimate of 20%."9to5mac+1

That language suggests Qualcomm's role in this fall's iPhones may be far more limited than previously thought — potentially indicating the C2 modem will appear even in U.S. models of the iPhone 18 Pro.

The Foldable Wild Card

The iPhone Ultra represents Apple's entry into the foldable market, with a book-style design featuring a 5.3- to 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.6- to 7.8-inch interior screen. Pricing is expected to start above $2,000. While production challenges have raised questions about whether the device will ship alongside the Pro models on September 18, most reports indicate it remains on track for a fall release.videomaker+3

The spring 2027 wave — featuring the standard iPhone 18 alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 — gives Apple a second major launch event and ensures its more affordable models are not overshadowed by the foldable's debut.forbes+1