Apple's Base iPhone Model Is Taking a Gap Year
The iPhone 18 won't show up to Apple's fall 2026 event, according to multiple reports.
For the first time in iPhone history, Apple plans to skip launching a standard model during its traditional September event. Instead, the company will unveil only premium devices: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone.
The regular iPhone 18 and more affordable iPhone 18e won't arrive until spring 2027, roughly six months later, while the second-generation iPhone Air has reportedly been delayed. Apple's new launch strategy has been corroborated by The Information, Korea's ETNews, Bloomberg, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
It will be the first deliberate separation of Apple's flagship iPhone releases since the company established its annual fall launch pattern with the iPhone 4S in 2011.
The new split strategy is said to serve several purposes. It will help Apple manage production as its lineup expands from five devices to six with the addition of the foldable model. It also addresses a competitive gap, as Chinese smartphone makers typically launch their flagship devices in the first half of the year when Apple has historically been quiet. By staging launches in both the fall and the spring, Apple can maintain a more consistent presence in the market all year round and better compete with its rivals.
The shift follows a pattern Apple actually started this year when it launched the iPhone 16e in March rather than alongside the iPhone 17 series in the fall. The e-series model replaced the standalone SE line and carries the previous year's model number.
So if you were planning to upgrade to the next new base model iPhone next year, you'll need to wait until 2027 – or choose one of Apple's pricier options.
Popular Stories
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026.
"I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
